Early Childhood Studies: Comprehensive Questions and Answers Review

This assignment delves into various facets of early childhood studies, addressing key questions and providing detailed answers. It begins by defining ethnocentrism and its significance in understanding cultural perspectives, particularly in relation to childrearing practices. The assignment then explores the importance of cultural and historical context in examining Aboriginal Australian childrearing, highlighting the impact of colonization and the need for culturally sensitive approaches. It further examines the challenging situation of children and youth in the Democratic Republic of Congo, emphasizing the complexities of intervention and the need to address socio-economic and structural violence. Additionally, the assignment defines child slavery and discusses controversies surrounding campaigns aimed at rescuing children. Finally, it provides an overview of the 'Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' and its mission to protect children from tobacco-related harm.

Running Head: QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Question and Answers on Early Childhood Studies
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1QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Table of Contents
Answer to question 1(a)...................................................................................................................2
Answer to Question 1(b)..................................................................................................................3
Answer to Question 1(c)..................................................................................................................4
Answer to Question 1(d)..................................................................................................................5
Answer to Question 1(d)..................................................................................................................6
Reference.........................................................................................................................................7

2QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Answer to question 1(a)
Ethnocentrism is defined as a term that is used by anthropologists for describing the
opinion, which states one’s own lifestyle as the natural and correct one. It can also be termed as
cultural ignorance. In simpler terms, ethnocentrism is known to be the notion that states one’s
own culture to the only correct way for leading the life (Keith, 2019). This is mostly believed
and practiced by those individuals who do not have any exposure to other cultures apart from
their own culture. The concept of culture is extremely overlapping and intermingling in itself.
Moreover, in the age of globalization, cultural boundaries have been diminished to the extent of
them becoming almost non-existent (Fernández-Ferrín, Bande and Galán-Ladero 2016).
However, some people are often known to experience a sense of shock that overwhelms them as
they expose themselves to various cultures apart from their own. The extreme situation shows
how these people completely disregard other cultures and their practices as wrong. They also
attempt to convert people who belong to other cultures and make them a part of their own. Such
extreme cases lead to incidents of war and genocide if the targeted groups refuse to change their
ways of living their lives. One very poignant example of ethnocentrism is colonialism. The
concept of colonialism states the domination of one culture over another that takes place along
with various forms of social changes (Fernández-Ferrín, Bande and Galán-Ladero 2016).
The concept of ethnocentrism is extremely significant in the evaluation of research in the
studies of childhood and early years’. The significance lies in the fact that ethnocentrism
highlights how the influence of the parental figures have its effects on the children mostly during
their early years of rearing (Keith, 2019). With the thoughts and ideas of the parents regarding
one’s culture and ethnicity, he or she learns to regard, disregard, acknowledge or
unacknowledged the value of other cultures. If the focus is kept on the Aboriginals of Australia,

3QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
various studies and surveys that have been conducted from the moment of birth of children in
Aboriginal families until the children reach their first birthday. It has revealed that they have an
extremely close-knit community life and follow the directions that are provided by any cultures
apart from their own only for the namesake (Fernández-Ferrín, Bande and Galán-Ladero 2016).
Reference
Fernández-Ferrín, P., Bande, B. and Galán-Ladero, M. (2016). Parental influence on the levels of
regional ethnocentrism of youth: An exploratory analysis. [ebook] SPANISH JOURNAL OF
MARKETING - ESIC. Available at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444969516300543 [Accessed 31 Jan. 2020].
Keith, K.D., 2019. Ethnocentrism: Seeing the world from where we stand. Cross
‐Cultural
Psychology: Contemporary Themes and Perspectives, pp.23-38.
Answer to Question 1(b)
It is important to keep the cultural and historical context in focus when discussing the
childrearing practices of the Aboriginal Australians because historical events have played a huge
part in the present scenario of the childrearing process practiced by them. If a close look is taken
into the history of the aboriginals in Australia, their social and emotional wellbeing is also taken
into consideration. It also brings into the context of colonization that changed their lives
completely and irrevocably (Dudgeon et al. 2010). Although there are two distinct communities
of indigenous people who belong to Australia, they lack proper representation as they are
broadly categorized as Indigenous with the absence of the history of the Torres Strait Islander.
Their history is marked by stages of colonization, resistance, adaptation, along with the various

4QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
shifts in the policies of the government concerning the indigenous communities (Dudgeon et al.
2010).
The process of colonization, resistance, and adaptation has marked the history of
Aboriginals of Australia and Torres Strait Islanders. Although the government of Australia was
responsible for looking after the wellbeing of these communities, the legislation process was
highly restrictive and punitive. It was propagated among the people under the garb of
development for their own good. However, the aim was to conduct genocide of the indigenous
Australians that was implemented with the help of loss of the indigenous language, dispersion of
the family, and the complete cessation of cultural practices. The current situation is although
different to some extent. This is because the Aboriginals as well as the Torres Strait Islanders are
being recognized as their own people and measures are being taken to include them in the
mainstream of life without bringing in any further alterations. However, there is a huge gap in
the attempts as they are being made by keeping the Western civilization in mind and not that of
the Indigenous community (Dudgeon et al. 2010). The condition is similar when it comes to the
childrearing practices of the Aboriginal people as they are very involved in their culture and the
child is taught from infancy about his relationship with the community and its people. The
childrearing practices are thus involving the entire community; this is contradictory to that of the
Western style of childrearing. Thus, having knowledge about the history of the Aboriginal
people and the Torres Strait Islanders is important to formulate the methods that shall be
effective in the childrearing process (Dudgeon et al. 2010).
Reference
Dudgeon, P., Wright, M., Paradies, Y., Garvey, D. and Walker, I., 2010. The social, cultural and
historical context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Working together:

5QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice,
pp.25-42.
Grigg, K. and Manderson, L., 2016. The Australian racism, acceptance, and cultural-
ethnocentrism scale (RACES): item response theory findings. International journal for equity in
health, 15(1), p.49.
Answer to Question 1(c)
The situation in the DRC when it comes to children and youth is extremely difficult as
they are living amidst violence along with various forms of violence and adversity. This is
mostly common in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where youth is suffering
from the violence and adversity. Although there are many young people’s and children’s agency
who are making efforts to improve their lives, the truth shows a different picture. These agencies
are nothing but “ambiguous (Seymour 2012)”; in spite of having international exposure, these
agencies that are based on child rights and their protection, they are actually far removed from
the reality that is being lived by these children and youth. There is a dire need for the world to
deepening its understanding of the adversities that are both socio-economic in nature along with
structural violence. The young people are increasingly becoming involved in such state and
extremist group sponsored violence whereas the agencies should focus on their development that
is more relevant and effective so that they can contribute towards a good future that is right now
on very high stakes (Seymour 2012).
One of the key problems that the volunteers who are working for these children and
youth are facing is their approach towards the situation. It is mostly a black and white sense of

6QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
righteousness that is backed by the right based regime in the international level. The approach
that the international child protection approach has taken up currently towards dealing with the
situation in these war-torn areas is too simplistic and removed from the actual context of the lives
that are lived by the children and youth. The discourse is prevalently focused on the sense of
vulnerability and victimhood which need immediate intervention and assistance are being shown.
It is more alarming because of the fact that an enormous amount of ethnographic data is available
that has challenged the universal and generic concept that is built on childhood, these children
and agency for the youth still focus on the assumptions that are made out of vulnerability and
victimhood; they scream of nothing by ambiguity (Seymour 2012).
Reference
Seymour, C., 2012. Ambiguous agencies: coping and survival in eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo. Children's geographies, 10(4), pp.373-384.
Answer to Question 1(d)
The concept of child slavery is defined as the used of children for terms of profit, mostly
through violence, various forms of abuse, threats, etc. It also includes involving children in
prostitution, pornography, begging, crimes that are pretty, and trading of drugs. Child labor in
agricultural fields, factories, construction sites, brick kilns, mines, bars, the tourism industry or
domestic chores is also considered to be child slavery. Forcing children to be in the forefront of
war, as well as armed conflicts, and forced matrimonial alliances are also considered to be child
slavery. The facts sheet shows that around 10 million children are involved in some form of
slavery, trafficking, debt bondage, or various other forms of forced labor (Hicks 2018).

7QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Many International agencies are working in the present for the development of these
children in the various war torn countries. However, there are a few controversies that have
swept in regarding these campaigns that have been launched in order to rescue the children in the
south. The most important aspect of this controversy is the approach that the campaigns have
taken up for developing the lives of these children and youth. The problem lies in the black and
white sense of righteousness that have veiled their sense of judgment. They have based their
campaigns on the sense of victimhood that have concealed their preconceived notion of
childhood (Hicks 2018).
Reference
Hicks, A., 2018. Child Slavery Before and After Emancipation: An Argument for Child-
Centered Slavery Studies ed. by Anna Mae Duane. The Journal of the History of Childhood and
Youth, 11(1), pp.138-140.
Answer to Question 1(d)
The campaign that has been launched for Tobacco-Free Kids have been launched in order
to fight against the protection of children in order to save their lives from one of the cause of
death- use of tobacco. Their vision is to create and contribute in a future that is free from any
instances of death or diseases that have been caused by tobacco (tobaccofreekids 2020). The
organization is one of the leading advocacy that has been working relentlessly to reduce the use
of tobacco along with the various consequences in the United States and the rest of the world.
With the help of strategic communication and formulation of policies, they have been promoting
the adoption of various proven solutions that have been proven most effective in order to reduce

8QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
the use of tobacco and hence be instrumental in saving many lives. They also have a team of
public health advocates who have records of accomplishment of more than 20-years track that
leads to a very successful campaign of policy advocacy (tobaccofreekids 2020).
Reference
tobaccofreekids (2020). Home. [online] Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Available at:
https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/ [Accessed 31 Jan. 2020].
Unger, J.B. and Bartsch, L., 2018. Exposure to tobacco websites: associations with cigarette and
e-cigarette use and susceptibility among adolescents. Addictive behaviors, 78, pp.120-123.

9QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Reference
Balee, W., 2016. Inside cultures: A new introduction to cultural anthropology. Routledge.
Byers, L., Kulitja, S., Lowell, A. and Kruske, S., 2012. ‘Hear our stories’: Child‐rearing practices
of a remote Australian Aboriginal community. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 20(6),
pp.293-297.
Gara, T., 2017. Colonialism and its aftermath: a history of Aboriginal South Australia.
Harrison, L.J., Sumsion, J., Bradley, B., Letsch, K. and Salamon, A., 2017. Flourishing on the
margins: A study of babies and belonging in an Australian Aboriginal community childcare
centre. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 25(2), pp.189-205.
Kinkead-Clark, Z. and Hardacre, C., 2019. Unpacking the mechanisms shaping perceptions of
quality in early childhood education research and practice as illuminated by cross-cultural
conversations between practitioners from Britain and Jamaica. Journal of Childhood Studies,
pp.6-20.
Krakouer, J., Wise, S. and Connolly, M., 2018. “We live and breathe through culture”:
Conceptualising cultural connection for Indigenous Australian children in out-of-home
care. Australian Social Work, 71(3), pp.265-276.
McDonald, A., 2017. Invisible Wounds: The impact of six years of war on the mental health of
Syria's children. Save the Children.