In the beginning, at the beginning of the 17th century, children suffered corporal punishment at the hands of their parents and educational institutions, and furthermore, according to the governing rules of religious institutions, children were abandoned, sexually abused and sometimes killed. Hugh Cunningham, professor of social history, in his book entitled Children and Childhood: In Western SocietySince 1500 analyzes the historical context of family and child-rearing and highlights the influences that have helped shape children's rights. He states that “the history of childhood has been a history of progress, that the experience of being a child and the understanding of the nature of childhood have improved over time” (Cunningham 40). Therefore, after hundreds of years of unfair and unjust treatment, children have become people with rights - children's rights. Beyond this, the importance of equality across race, gender, and child well-being has led to the implementation of myriad laws to improve the lives and, in particular, the treatment of children. In examining the role of child rearing, child labor, education, state interests and the women's movement, it is evident that these represent turning points that have shaped the history of children's rights in society. children's rights in society. Cunningham highlights the historical context of child-rearing and argues that by the early 17th century the importance of religion, particularly Catholicism, had a growing emphasis on the duties of parents towards their children. Fathers were the masters of their family and were given permission by the Church to have power over the life and death of their children...middle of paper...historically, DeMause states that children have experienced tremendous cruelty and neglect and also , it is likely that children were killed, abandoned, beaten, terrorized and sexually abused by their caregivers (DeMause par.2). Clearly, children's historical experiences with religion, work, education, gender, and politics represent turning points that influence how children experience life. Furthermore, there appears to be a growing interconnection between parents, children and social constructions external to the family unit that significantly influence children's socialization and lives. To promote and foster a world free from injustice, society must continue to care about cruelty and discrimination against children. Every child has the right to live a life of dignity and dignity and, therefore, society must strive to support children's rights.