Conclusion

Introduction / Literature Review / Data and Analysis / Conclusion / Sources

This project highlighted the inequalities between socioeconomic classes in the early 1900s and how they impacted childhood experiences. Through the examination of scholarly and primary sources as well as photographs from the time period, I was able to analyze how children and families of lower socioeconomic classes had less opportunities for a prosperous childhood because they may have entered the labor force, missed educational opportunities, have lower wages, and less leisure time. Approaching this topic from a geographical perspective allowed me to distinguish between wealth and poverty in rural and urban areas and how geography impacts wages and playmate availability. Many influences on childhood such as education, social acceptance, spending money, and leisure and playtime impact childhood experiences and differ between those of different socioeconomic classes.

I would be interested in further researching how materialistic culture and the rise of consumerism impact childhood and family experiences. Several of my sources outlined different aspects of materialistic culture and how children were most influenced by advertisements and desired new and popular items. In the early 1900s, industrialization and consumerism were on the rise and it could be beneficial to research how children impacted their families’ perspectives on materialistic items depending on socioeconomic class.

Introduction / Literature Review / Data and Analysis / Conclusion / Sources