A new look on the concept of child abandonment - DOI: 10.4025/actascihumansoc.v32i1.7210

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the origin of the phenomenon of child abandonment, as well as the impact of this phenomenon on relationships established in contemporary society. By resuming some historically built theoretical concepts, the text emphasizes the significant contributions and fragile points presented by these concepts, which enable or prevent further progress to the debate in question. Later, it proposes a new interpretation of the phenomenon of child abandonment from the Marxist theoretical reference. Analyses show that under the term ‘abandoned child’ hides a huge contingent of children who lack minimum conditions for survival and, as adults, will reproduce the situation of greater lowering of their economic conditions and the situation of social not-recognition.