Cultural Influences on Childhood Participation in Adult Activities

Ethnographic reports on a world sample of societies were used for rating frequency of participation by children in adult activities and degree of permissive treatment of children. Although the correlation between the two measures of childhood is close to zero, frequent participation by children in adult activities has different meanings depending on whether children are treated permissively or puni-tively. In societies where permissiveness is low, frequent participa-tion by children is correlated with several measures of low cultural complexity, indicating greater need for child labor. In societies where permissiveness is high, frequent participation by children is correlated with absence of an initiation ceremony for adolescent girls and with a compact rather than dispersed settlement, indicat-ing more opportunities for children to be granted adult privileges. Frequent participation by children in adult activities also has different meanings depending on whether the community is inde-pendent or subordinate to a government. Frequent participation by children in adult activities has several advantages. Children can contribute needed labor. Family cohe-sion may be strengthened by participation of children. Children usually desire adult privileges, such as sharing enjoyable experi-ences with adults and staying up late at night