Childism: A Movement for the Rights of Children
Childism is the pro-child movement fighting against adultism, a set of societal prejudices against children. Through these prejudices, adults see children as property they can control or remove from the home to serve their needs and whims –– rather than as human beings deserving of equal treatment.
Many of us engage with adultism without realizing its severity. This deeply ingrained ideology equates a child’s dependency on adults with subordination and assumes a child is incapable of making their own decisions. When we engage in adultism, we take away a child’s right to agency, including bodily autonomy.
Capitalism teaches us to connect human value to labor productivity. Since they often cannot provide labor, children are seen as less valuable than working adults and thus less deserving of rights. This adultist view of children not only causes them harm, they then continue the cycle by carrying those same views with them into adulthood.
By advocating for childism, we can move toward a society where everyone has sovereignty and is treated with respect, regardless of their societal contributions. Children need understanding, compromise, affection, and care just as adults do; they are individuals with their own bodies, minds, and thoughts.
Adultism has long-lasting intergenerational effects. Leaving our inner children unhealed can compromise our ability to set nurturing boundaries in our relationships. When our needs are not met in these relationships, there is a negative effect both on our self-worth and on those around us––including the children in our lives.
Childism acknowledges the needs of children and can also help us reconcile with childhood trauma.
Here are some ways we can begin to practice childist values:
Acknowledging children’s agency and autonomy. Asking for consent before hugs and allowing children to voice when they are tired or overwhelmed teaches them bodily autonomy and choice.
Talking to children with respect and kindness. When we talk down to children, we make them feel inferior and invalidated.
Encouraging children’s curiosity. Healthy questioning of the world around them sets a precedent for healthy exploration of their identity, relationships, and politics.
Engaging in mutual aid that supports children and their caretakers. These community networks allow people to reach out for needs like childcare and supplies, while those who are available can offer support to meet those needs.
These practices promote self-advocacy in children and can lead to a more loving relationship with ourselves and others. Moreover, they become models for children in developing their own identities and relationships.
What are some ways you experienced adultism as a child? What are some ways you can empower the children in your life?