Coming of age or an age of becoming? : the role of childhood in identity formation at Deir el-Medina, New Kingdom Egypt
This thesis explores the role of childhood in identity formation. The concept that childhood contributes to an individualâs identityâhow a person becomes who they are, and how childhood influences thisâis universally relevant. However, whilst the influence of childhood is universal, exactly what âchildhoodâ means is not. Because the existence of children is a common thread linking all societies, it is unsurprising that every society has a different conception of what âchildhoodâ means, which members were considered children, and the freedoms, restrictions or expectations placed on those at this stage of life. The discussion here is framed within the context of ancient Egyptâspecifically, the site of Deir el-Medinaâbut its approach is also relevant to those studying childhood in other areas. Today, identity is considered equivalent to how we define and understand ourselves, influenced by our personal experiences. However, these experiences are themselves informed by how society defines and groups us, based on factors such as gender, ethnicity or religion. Identity therefore involves two inter-linked components: how society defines the individual, and how individuals define themselves. In exploring
Hinson, Benjamin Samuel Paul
Childhood ; Archaeology ; Egyptology ; New Kingdom ; Deir el-Medina
Coming of age or an age of becoming? : the role of childhood in identity formation at Deir el-Medina, New Kingdom Egypt. This thesis explores the role of childhood in identity formation. The concept that childhood contributes to an individualâs identityâhow a person becomes who they are, and how childhood influences thisâis universally relevant. However, whilst the influence of childhood is universal, exactly what âchildhoodâ means is not. Because the existence of children is a common thread linking all societies, it is unsurprising that every society has a different conception of what âchildhoodâ means, which members were considered children, and the freedoms, restrictions or expectations placed on those at this stage of life. The discussion here is framed within the context of ancient Egyptâspecifically, the site of Deir el-Medinaâbut its approach is also relevant to those studying childhood in other areas. Today, identity is considered equivalent to how we define and understand ourselves, influenced by our personal experiences. However, these experiences are themselves informed by how society defines and groups us, based on factors such as gender, ethnicity or religion. Identity therefore involves two inter-linked components: how society defines the individual, and how individuals define themselves. In exploring
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