Orphanhood as a social phenomenon includes two concepts: orphans, children whose parents have died, and orphans, children whose parents are alive, but for various reasons do not participate in the upbringing and provision of acceptable living conditions.
Types of Orphanhood
Until XX century, in sociology and pedagogy, orphanhood was defined as the presence in society of persons under 18 years of age, both of whom or their only parents died. In the XX century, the presence of such a phenomenon as the elimination of parents from duties in relation to their children was called social orphanhood. Accordingly, persons under 18 years of age left without the care of one or both parents are social orphans.
In general, orphanhood, as a social phenomenon, can be divided into the following groups of orphans:
1. Direct - minor children left without parents because of their death;
2. “Deprived” - children whose parents are deprived of parental rights due to negative social behavior or the inability to provide the necessary living and development conditions for their children (including cases where parents are recognized as incompetent, are in prison or are charged with crimes, are kept in medical institutions, are missing);
3. “Refuseniks” - children whose parents voluntarily renounced parental rights;
4. Boarding orphans - children who are brought up in boarding schools, as a result of which their parents practically do not take part in education;
5. Home conditional orphans - children who live with their parents, but are in negative psychological and living conditions.
The category of “hidden” orphans also stands out - children deprived of the necessary care and development conditions, but whose position is hidden from the state, as a result of which such children do not receive the necessary assistance.
