Philosopher's Zone Innocence and 'child rescue' in the colonial imagination
Dec 17, 2025
Joanne Faulkner, a Senior Lecturer specializing in colonial childhood and ethics, delves into the troubling connections between Australia's Stolen Generations and the 19th-century British child rescue movement. She discusses how the narrative of rescuing 'ragged children' from families was often steeped in racist imagery and middle-class entitlement. Faulkner explores the lingering effects of such ideologies in contemporary media and policy, highlighting how infantilization and colonial legacies continue to impact Indigenous families today.
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Ragged Children As Middle-Class Anxiety
- 19th-century ragged children symbolised middle-class anxieties about urban poverty and social order.
- Middle-class rescue framed children as salvageable future citizens who needed training and discipline.
Bernardo's Staged Transformations
- Thomas John Bernardo staged 'before and after' photographs to show child transformation and solicit donations.
- He also abducted ragged children from London streets to populate his homes and image narratives.
Picaninny Image As A Rescue Narrative
- The Picaninny motif presented Aboriginal children as cute, waif-like, and disconnected from family or culture.
- This portrayal made Indigenous children appear available for 'rescue' and colonial assimilation.