article

Dealing with the dark side in the ethnography of childhood: child punishment in Tonga

Oceania • 63 • Published In 1993 • Pages: 313-329

By: Lee, Helen Morton.

Abstract

This is a study of child abuse in Tonga, starting with the first reports of such behavior by the anthropologists, Ernest and Pearl Beaglehole in the 1930s. Physical punishment is a widely accepted form of disciplining children and part of the socialization process in Tonga. Lee examines the fine line between maltreatment and punishment, and discusses child punishment in context of wider ideas regarding Tonga personhood and child development, and Tonga's hierarchical society. Punishment is a means to mold the child to values associated with the ideals of Tonga personhood, such as cleverness (POTO) and love ('OFA). There are laws against child abuse although charges are seldom laid. Lee notes that Westernizing trends and rapid social change have influenced families to be either stricter with their children or more relaxed. Problems of child abuse have risen in Tongan migrant communities.

HRAF PubDate

2006

Region

Oceania

Sub Region

Polynesia

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Ian Skoggard; 2004

Field Date

1979-1989

Coverage Date

1938-1988

Coverage Place

Tonga

Notes

Helen Kavapalu

Includes bibliographical references (p. 327-329)

LCCN

38017490

LCSH

Tongans