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Childhood and the City Final Padlet Exhibit

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Childhood and the City Final Padlet Exhibit

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Summary of primary text
Sun Hee and the Street Boy follows the story of eight-year-old Sun Hee and her three-year-old sister Agga, as they navigate the city of Seoul Korea. After the Korean war, the city falls into poverty, making food scarce and the streets dangerous for children. Sun Hee and her sister, get their lunch stolen every day on their walk to school through the dark streets by a gang of street boys. Eventually, a street boy named Tiger, shows Sun Hee a safer shortcut through the dark streets to avoid the gang, quickly becoming friends with the sisters. Touched by Tigers kindness and good nature, the Lee family adopts him into their small one-bedroom home, finally giving him a family and a safe home off the dangerous streets.  Sun Hee and Tiger deal with many issues seen in big inner cities such as gangs, homelessness, war, and disease. Throughout the book, these serious issues take a toll on Sun Hee and Tiger’s emotional and physical health.

Cover Photo. 1 Apr. 2019. Personal Photograph. Taken at the Ryerson Special Collections library.

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In Sun Hee and the Street Boy child protagonists Sun Hee and Tiger deal with many issues seen in big inner cities such as gangs, homelessness, war, and disease. Throughout the book, these serious issues take a toll on Sun Hee and Tiger’s emotional and physical health. Taking inspiration from the reoccurring adult issues Sun Hee faced in the city of Seoul, this essay will determine if it is physically and mentally healthier for disadvantaged children to experience a Korean rural childhood. This exhibit will present research on urban issues versus rural issues and how these problems affect the physical and emotional health of Korean children. This essay will then compare findings about urban childhood versus rural childhood to make an informed answer to the research question, supported by pieces of text, photographs, and videos.

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Are people living in the country happier than people in the city? Or vice versa?

BuzzFeedVideo. "Country Vs. City." YouTube, 12 Aug. 2015.

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Based on the textual evidence from Sun Hee and the Street Boy as well as extended research, it is physically and mentally healthier for Korean disadvantaged children to have a rural childhood. A Korean rural childhood is away from urban violence, and pollutants, shielding the child from potential psychological or health issues.

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Different parts of the city on a time lapse.

Wildness Hunting Daily. “Seoul City - Seoul City Time Lapse.” YouTube, 20 Jan. 2016.

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서울 Seoul City - Seoul South Korea Time lapse

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Violence in the City
In the book, violence in the city of Seoul is common, like in many other cities around the world. This exposure to violence is experienced by Sun Hee and her sister Agga, who are violently robbed of their food every day by street boys on their walk to school. In one part of southern downtown Chicago, 42 % of children aged 7-13 years have seen someone shot and 37 % have seen someone stabbed. Witnessing or being a victim of violence affects a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional functioning (Sternthal et, al. 1). Many children look to school for the stability that doesn’t exist in their neighbourhoods. However, schools in low income neighbourhoods often do not let their students outside for recess, due to potential gunfire or gangs. This lack of a stable safe environment causes psychological damage that urban children can carry on to adulthood (Walters 1). Exposure to violence also affects a child’s physical stress response like increased blood pressure and heart rate, leading to other health problems.

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 13. Sun Hee and Agga robbed in the city street.

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Environmental Pollutants
Sun Hee lives in the highly populated city of Seoul, which has a high-density population of ten million people as of 2018 (worldpopulationreview). With such a high population, the city does experience high levels of air pollutants. Research shows that exposure to environmental pollutants like air pollution, mold, dust, and smoke, makes asthma, especially prevalent amongst urban children under the age of 14 (Kanchongkittiphon et, al. 103-110). A study done in Seoul in 2002 examined the connection between asthma hospitalizations in children and socioeconomic status. The study showed that the number of children who were hospitalized for asthma increased as the socio-economic status of the residence area decreased (Kim et, al. 1). Meaning, disadvantaged children of families living in a lower socio-economic area, inhale more air pollutants leading and develop asthma, as they are more likely to live in densely populated areas. Another study done in 2001 studied the correlation between air pollution and low birth weight in Seoul Korea by taking data from babies born in 1997-1998. The study found that mothers who live in areas of high pollution are at risk of giving birth to a low weight baby, affected especially in the third and last trimester of their pregnancy. A low birth weight leaves the infant at risk for infant mortality and other adverse effects later in life (Ha et, al 643-648).

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 112. Tiger, sick and hours away from death after spending winter on the streets.

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Burtynsky, Edward. Shipyard # 7, Qili Port, Zhejiang Province, China. Bejing, 2005. Tanebaum Collection, Ryerson Image Centre. Air Pollution in Bejing

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Psychological Disorders
A recent study investigated the link between growing up in urban areas and psychiatric disorders. 713 Chinese children were studied, associating their lives with "fear" and “sadness" seemingly driven by living in Chinese mega cities like Bejing. It has also been noted that the prevalence of schizophrenia and depression is higher in urban living populations as opposed to rural living populations. The link between declining mental health in urban children may have to do with natural environments versus built environments (spaces built by humans like cities). In the novel for example, Sun Hee only plays in built environments like the narrow Seoul streets and the limited enclosed garden in the back of her apartment. However, studies show that a walk through a green forest elevates mood whereas a walk through grey building areas do not. This highlights the importance of parks and green space in mega cities. This explains that childhood in an urban city like Seoul may be a factor for developing a psychiatric disorder later in life (Becker et, al).

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 100. Sun Hee Playing in her Limited Backyard Space in her apartment

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Screenshot Photograph. Taken during the BuzzFeedVideo. "Country Vs. City." YouTube, 12 Aug. 2015.

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Rosenblum, Walter. Boy on Roof, Pitt Street, New York. New York, 1950. Tanebaum Collection, Ryerson Image Centre. A Urban Boy Playing on a Rooftop

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Faurer, Louis. Playground, New York City. New York, 1947. Tanebaum Collection, Ryerson Image Centre. Children using the street as their playground

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The Pros

While there are many cons for living an urban childhood, there is also a number of pros to growing up in the city that are highlighted in the book. In major cities such as Seoul, there is access to more social services such as more jobs, hospitals, medical care, transportation, and imported goods. In the book, Sun Hee's mother works as a seamstress to provide for the family, a job that would be hard to obtain in a rural area. A study in Korea in 1984 investigated trends for urban to rural migration by studying people who moved from the country to the city and then returning to the country. The study found that out of the group studied, return migrants benefited from their experience of urban living. Most of the people studied, moved to the city because giving their children a formal education in the city appeared to be a priority for increasing socioeconomic status (Choi 1). For example, in the text Sun Hee’s mother sends her daughter Agga, to a special government run daycare that provides free food to all of the students. Government welfare services such as special schools, are lacking in rural areas motivating families to move to the city with their children. Finally, at the end of the book, readers learn that Sun Hee's mother receives glasses, specially imported from America to help her severe headaches that are caused from vision problems. Access to imported goods are much easier to get a hold of in city centres as opposed to rural communities.

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 45. Agga eating her provided meal at daycare.

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National Folk Museum of Korea festival in the City of Seoul 

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National Folk Museum of Korea festival in the City of Seoul 

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There is access to many social services in the urban cities like festivals for children, like this one on Korean culture.

Arirang News. "Adults revist childhood, children are celebrated at National folk museum of Korea." YouTube,  4 May 2017.

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Adults revist childhood, children are celebrated at National folk museum of Korea

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The Pros
Throughout the book, the author Audrey Mckim, heavily glorifies Korean rural childhood for various reasons. Children living in rural settings have more opportunity for environmental exploration and get more physical activity through play, as they have spatial freedom. More green space elevates mood and also provides the exercise children need. Additionally, children in rural areas do not intake as much pollution as their urban counterparts, and less crowding in public spaces makes them less likely to contract illness or develop asthma. Rural settings are often safer for children, lacking the gangs and street crime found in urban cities such as the robbery Sun Hee and Agga faced in the book. Not witnessing violence spares a child from trauma, making them less likely to develop psychiatric disorders later in life (Powell et, al. 1). According to the study done on return rural migration, funds from returning rural migrants were small, as living in the city is often much more expensive than living in the country. In that respect it could be argued that children living in the country may belong to more financially stable as opposed to their urban counterparts. Financial stability is essential for providing a child a healthy childhood as it ensures the child access to everything they need such as an adequate living space, nutritious food, as well as toys and items for play to advance learning (Choi 1).

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 56. Praying in a Rural Church.

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"Unidentified Asian Children in Country in Khanh Hoa Vietnam." Vietnam, 2013. Taken off of DreamStine. https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-lovely-pretty-asia-children-countryside-khanh-hoa-viet-nam-feb-unidentified-kids-have-pure-face-sitting-meadow-smile-image36691801

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Audrey McKim Glorifying Rural Childhood in the Text

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Audrey McKim Glorifying Rural Childhood in the Text

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Examples
The following are pieces of textual evidence from the novel of the author glorifying Korean rural childhood as opposed to the urban childhood in the book.

"The land looked like a vast carpet of brown touched with green, for the barley shoots were just beginning to sprout from the dark earth. Look grandmother!" said Sun Hee. "From here, the blossoming cherry trees are like flowers bursting from the ground!"
"Some day," said Young Hill, "our city will be as beautiful as the countryside." (Mckim 48 )

"The Lee family rented one room in the house of Mr. Oh Song. It was crowded for two women, a big boy of twelve, and two little girls. There were few places for poor people to live in the city of Seoul. Some families even had to live in caves." (Mckim 20)

Binsky, Drew. "A Tour Around My Rural Korean Village."  YouTube, 27 November. 2014.

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The Cons
While there are many pros for living a rural childhood, it does not come without its fair share of cons. For instance, children living in rural areas lack transportation to get to places such as schools, work, grocery stores, and hospitals. Children living in rural areas are less likely to form a strong community bond with others living in the area, as the population density is significantly lower than in the city. This can lead to feelings of isolation which can also lead a child to feeling sad or depressed. Additionally, poorer children living in extreme remote rural areas in developing countries often do not get the chance to attend school and must help out their family on the property, engaging in free child labour (Powell et, al. 1). Not having access to an education keeps poor rural children stuck in a lifetime of labour and poverty, limiting their chances of having a better life elsewhere. This is what happened to Tiger before the Korean war destroyed his rural home, forcing him on the streets.

The following is an example from the text of a very big issue for disadvantaged rural children:

Examples from the book

"I lived in the hills. My father's house had a thatched roof made of rice straw," Kim Ho sighed.
"Did you go to school?" asked Sun Hee.
His back straightened. "My father needed me to work on the farm. I was of much help to him."

(Mckim 75)

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 117. Tiger and Young Hee Flying Kites in the Hills.

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Hoang, Na. Rural Living in Korea. South Korea, 2017. Photograph taken off personal blog.  http://saykimchirecruiting.com/rural-living-in-korea/

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Final Verdict, Conclusion, and Importance

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Final Verdict, Conclusion, and Importance

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Based on the textual evidence from Sun Hee and the Street Boy as well as extended research, it is physically and mentally healthier for disadvantaged Korean children to have a rural childhood. A rural childhood is away from urban violence, and pollutants, shielding the child from potential psychological or health issues. A rural setting keeps the childhood separate from the adult world, which is not possible in urban cities. This is seen in the novel as Sun Hee is constantly thrown into the adult world, dealing with issues such as poverty, homelessness and disease whereas she should instead be enjoying her childhood. Keeping the childhood separate from the adult world allows the child to prosper in a stable environment where they can grow into healthy minded adults. This exhibit shows where it is best to raise a child for their optimal physical and mental health. It also highlights how many disadvantaged urban children deal with adult issues that they should not be dealing with in childhood. This exhibit can act as a call to action to better protect urban children and the importance of creating a stable environment for urban and rural children. All children, regardless of where they grow up, should have a safe, stable childhood, full of play, in order for them to grow into healthy adults.

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Sookmyung Women's University. "Beefing up early childhood education." South Korea, 2013. Photograph taken off the Korean Times. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/04/181_137790.html

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“Images in this online exhibit are either in the public domain or being used under fair dealing for the purpose of research and are provided solely for the purposes of research, private study, or education."

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Becker, Benjamin et, al. “Does Growing up in Urban Compared to Rural Areas Shape Primary Emotional Traits?” Behavioural Science MDPI. Aug. 29, 2017. Accessed on the US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health Database https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5618068/

Choi, Jh. "Urban to Rural Migration in Korea."  John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 1984. Accessed on Popline on April 14th 2019. https://www.popline.org/node/407534

Ha, Eun-Hee et, al. “Is Air Pollution a Risk Factor for Low Birth Weight in Seoul?” Epidemiology, vol. 12, no. 6, 2001, pp. 643–648. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3703182.

Kanchongkittiphon, Watcharoot., Gaffin, M. Jonathan., and Phipatanakul, Wanda. "The Indoor Environment and Inner-City Childhood Asthma." Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology, vol. 32, no. 2, 2014, pp. 103-10. Accessed as ProQuest, Ebook on the Ryerson Database http://ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/docview/1614082391?accountid=13631.

Kim, Ho et, al. "Relationship between the Exposure to Ozone in Seoul and the Childhood Asthma-related Hospital Admissions according to the Socioeconomic Status." Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. 2006. Accessed on April 14 2019. https://www.jpmph.org/journal/view.php?number=1672

Lee, Jong-Tae, et al. “Air Pollution and Asthma among Children in Seoul, Korea.” Epidemiology, vol. 13, no. 4, 2002, pp. 481–484. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3703774.

Mckim, Audrey, and Ngoot, Lee, (illustrator). “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Accessed as a physical text at the Ryerson’s Special Collections Archive, February 13, 2019.

Panelli, Ruth., Punch, Samantha., and Robson Elsbeth. “Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth: Young Rural Lives.” Routledge. 2007. Accessed as an Ebook on the Ryerson Database, https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/lib/ryerson/detail.action?docID=32532

Powell, Marry Anne., Taylor, Nicola., and Smith, B. Anne. “Constructions of Rural Childhood: Challenging Dominant Perspectives.” Children’s Geographies. Feb. 2013, pp. 117-131. Accessed on the Ryerson Database, doi:10.1080/14733285.2013.743285.

Seoul Population. (2018-11-30). Retrieved April 1st 2019, from http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/seoul/

Sternthal, M. J., Jun, H. J., Earls, F., and Wright, R. J. “Community Violence and Urban Childhood Asthma: a Multilevel Analysis.” European Respiratory Journal. June 2010, pp. 1400–1409. Accessed on the Ryerson Database, doi:10.1183/09031936.00003010.

Walters, S. Laurel. "Urban Childhood several New Books Present Readers with Vivid Pictures of how Kids Cope with the Challenges of Living in the City." The Christian Science Monitor. September 11, 1992. Accessed on Ryerson Database. https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/docview/291196674/abstract/A32AA6C6739547ECPQ/1?accountid=13631

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                                           Work Cited for photos

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Burtynsky, Edward. Shipyard # 7, Qili Port, Zhejiang Province, China. Bejing, 2005. Tanebaum Collection, Ryerson Image Centre.

Dickson, Alessia. Cover Photo. 1 Apr. 2019. Personal Photograph.

Dickson, Alessia. Screenshot Photograph. Taken during the BuzzFeedVideo. "Country Vs. City." YouTube, 12 Aug. 2015.

Faurer, Louis. Playground, New York City. New York, 1947. Tanebaum Collection, Ryerson Image Centre.

Hoang, Na. Rural Living in Korea. South Korea, 2017. Photograph taken off personal blog.  http://saykimchirecruiting.com/rural-living-in-korea/

"Unidentified Asian Children in Country in Khanh Hoa Vietnam." Vietnam, 2013. Taken off of DreamStine. https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-lovely-pretty-asia-children-countryside-khanh-hoa-viet-nam-feb-unidentified-kids-have-pure-face-sitting-meadow-smile-image36691801

Rosenblum, Walter. Boy on Roof, Pitt Street, New York. New York, 1950. Tanebaum Collection, Ryerson Image Centre.

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 13.

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 45.

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 56.

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 100.

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 112.

Ngoot, Lee. “Sunhee and the Street Boy.” Friendship Press, 1962. Illustration. Pg 117.

Sookmyung Women's University. "Beefing up early childhood education." South Korea, 2013. Photograph taken off the Korean Times. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/04/181_137790.html

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                                     Work Cited for Videos 

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Arirang News. "Adults revist childhood, children are celebrated at National folk museum of Korea." YouTube,  4 May 2017.

Binsky, Drew. "A Tour Around My Rural Korean Village."  YouTube, 27 November. 2014.

BuzzFeedVideo. "Country Vs. City." YouTube, 12 Aug. 2015.

Wildness Hunting Daily. “Seoul City - Seoul City Time Lapse.” YouTube, 20 Jan. 2016.