The Transformation of Childhood: Children and Families in Postwar Norway

Abstract

The title 'Transformation of Childhood' relates to the structural and cultural changes in childhood and families in the period following the Second World War. Modern childhood is closely related to the evolution of the post-industrial educational society. This has permeated both family life and the culture in general, transforming the landscape of childhood through the creation of a new family structure, daycare systems, organized leisure activities, and extensive schooling. At the core of these changes in family patterns, as well as the changes in the ideology of parenting and family policies in Scandinavia, is the educational level of parents, especially mothers. Another factor is the ideology of equality between the sexes, and the changing structure of modern professional life. The 1990s period sees girls being more successful than boys during the years of mandatory schooling, and being dominant among students in higher education. They also appear to hold a stronger position in the child culture in general, and in relation to the predominant youth scenes. This development is rooted partly in the structure of modern childhood, providing fertile ground for social and cultural innovation. Through generational exchange, the childhood of one historical period influences the family patterns of the next one, restructuring the childhood of the next generation of children.