The conceptualization of childhood in the life narrativy representatives of two generations of Russians

Abstract

On the materials of a series of narrative interviews, the article analyzes the features of conceptualization and reconstruction of the children's period of life by representatives of two generations of Russians - “baby boomers” and “generation X”. An attempt was made to reveal the universal and differentiated from generation to generation meanings and plots of life narratives about childhood, which are the essence of such conceptualization. As content components of the social concept of childhood, the typical statements of informants repeated in most narratives were analyzed, which were structured in the following thematic blocks: general background of childhood memories, ideas about the time frame of childhood, the system of mutual expectations of children and parents, social (extra-familial) context of childhood, assessment of the influence of children's experience on the future life. The hypothesis is confirmed that each generation has a special social concept of childhood, shows intergenerational shifts and contrasts in understanding the childhood period. The most significant intergenerational differences in the conceptualization of childhood are the concepts of “golden childhood” and transitional age, ideas about the allowable degree of autonomy and subjectivity of the child, the issues of parental involvement in teaching a child and choosing a profession, attitude to physical punishment as a measure of educational impact. The intergenerational differences in the content of childhood narratives concern the assessment of the influence of the childhood period on the future life.