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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

public behavior, Ecuadorian orphans, mental and physical handicaps, child interactions

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Anthropology

Abstract

Identity within a social structure is easily analyzed when found in a culturally traditional setting. However, when physical and mental handicaps, parental figure transience, and varying levels of familial contact become factors the social structure and the roles within that structure are not as easily defined. Research for this study was performed at an Ecuadorian orphanage where many of the children have mental and physical handicaps and where the adults they interact with change quite frequently. Based on this study, it can be concluded that a child’s role within this society and the type of interactions that child has with others seem to be largely contingent upon the presence or absence of a handicap.

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