A Cross-Cultural View of Adults’ Perceptions of Children’s Rights

Abstract

This study examined how the need for autonomy may be coexisting with current cultural norms. A total of 264 U.S., 76 Swiss, and 51 British adults completed two perceptions of children's rights surveys. The results showed that Swiss and British participants were significantly more likely to advocate for autonomy or self-determination rights than same-aged U.S. adults. British participants were also more likely to advocate for children's self-determination rights than U.S. and Swiss participants, whereas Swiss adults were more likely to grant children nurturance rights than British and US adults. Generally, parents were less likely to advocate for autonomy than non-parents. The results are discussed in terms of individualismcollectivism, self-determination theories, and parentalism.

South African Mixed‐race Children's and Mothers' Judgments and Reasoning about Children's Nurturance and Self‐determination Rights

“…The present study was exploratory in nature, given the lack of previous work examining judgments and reasoning about children's nurturance and self‐determination rights in a South African context. As in previous research (e.g., Cherney et al., 2008; Ruck et al., 2002), in the present study children and their mothers responded to hypothetical vignettes involving either nurturance or self‐determination situations in individual interviews, where the rights of the child conflicted with parental wishes in the home. Participants indicated whether the child story character should have the right in question and provided a rationale or explanation for their decision.…”

“…The four self‐determination vignettes included the right to privacy, freedom of expression, political participation, and right to work in a job. These vignettes were chosen given that they had been used in past western and non‐western research examining reasoning and attitudes concerning children's self‐expression rights (e.g., Cherney & Shing, 2008; Cherney et al., 2008; Lahat et al., 2009; Ruck et al., 2002). In the right to privacy scenario, a child wanted the right to keep a diary secret from her or his parents.…”

“…In the right to work scenario, a child wants to leave school and get a job, but the child's parents do not want the child to do so. This scenario was chosen for the current investigation as it has been used in previous research (e.g., Cherney & Shing, 2008; Cherney et al., 2008; Melton & Limber, 1992), and pilot testing indicated that the topic was also relevant for South African children and mothers.…”

“…The views of parents (or adults), are also central to a complete understanding of children's rights as parents are more typically in positions to either fulfill or restrict children's nurturance or self‐determination rights (Cherney, Greteman, & Travers, 2008; Day et al., 2006; Ruck et al., 2002). As others have recently noted, for young people who experience considerable economic, psychological as well as physical dependence on their parents, children's rights are typically provided by their parents on behalf of the child rather than through the child's own agency (Cherney et al., 2008; Peterson‐Badali et al., 2004).…”

Adults’ Perspectives on Tweens’ Capacities: Participation or Protection?

“…In many countries the child is not only protected, but also restricted by many laws until they reach 18 years of age (Mannion, 2007). By affording children these protections and restrictions, some argue that children are free to be carefree, yet a 'carefree childhood' remains one that is defined and determined by the will of the adults of the community (Cherney, Greteman, & Travers, 2008).…”