article

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

Oceania63 • 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.
Subjects
Child care
culture
Tongans
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