Thursday, March 24, 2011
War & Peace (and Kids)
We've talked about children developing in different social settings like North America or Europe, however we have neglected countries that are not as stable as our own. War is constantly raging in the Middle East, and with the current trends of rebellion within countries there may only be more to come. So my question is this: how do you think war effects a child's role, identity, and morality? Also what things maybe absent within these warring societies that forces a child to grow up differently?
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My guess would be that children in less stable or affluent countries are forced to "grow up" sooner than Americans/Europeans. They are probably less likely to be distracted by things because they know that they need to be proactive in order to get anywhere in life, whether it be fleeing a country or simply getting a job that offers security. I would imagine that they have less opportunities to "explore" their identities and often take on roles in society simply because they are available or because of their social status.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Children are definitely forced to become more mature and "grow up" much longer before those of us in the U.S. If you look at places like Africa, children are constantly getting placed into radical groups and are handed rifles at the age of ten.
ReplyDeleteIn the U.S. a much more comfortable environment,kids can just be kids. In other countries, most are not fortunate to have that opportunity. It's sad.
I feel like these are the countries that do not have teen angst. Teenagers, I would assume, know what they have to do and who they are expected to become and are able to fill those roles more willingly than teens in the US.
ReplyDeleteOk, so I'd like to add my thoughts speaking specifically about Israel, which is a sort of unique case - very much Western, but also surrounded by and embroiled in potential conflict at any time. My sense is that children there, for the most part, grow up like most Western kids (ala Europe and the U.S., but then because they go into the army at age 18 (boys and girls) tend to do their "freedom and exploration time" more after the army, at age 21 or beyond. This military reality definitely changes their developmental trajectory as compared to typical American or European kids.
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