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Childhood in the Somali Context: Mothers' and Children's Ideas about Childhood and Parenthood

University of Tromsø Norway

Karsten Hundeide

University of Oslo Norway

Mothers (n = 20, mean age 30 years) and children (n = 23, mean age 10 years) in Mogadishu, Somalia were interviewed regarding their ideas about childhood and par enting. The main features of the context focused on (a) sources of difficulties and joy, (b) what is seen as good child-rearing and how a child should be, and (c) the value of children for mothers. Both mothers and children stressed the importance of obedience, hard work and contribution to the bousehold from children. Women valued children highly and wanted many children. They emphasised children's physical needs. Chil dren stressed the authority ofparents and the wish for improved material conditions. The values and beliefs of the mothers and children were closely related to important direct goals in their everyday lives and the living conditions, child rearing practices and ideas were closely related.

Psychology & Developing Societies, Vol. 10, No. 2, 131-145 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/097133369801000203


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