Human zoo facts for kids
A human zoo was a type of exhibition where people from different cultures were shown to the public. These shows were often set up in a similar way to how animals are displayed in a zoo today. Most human zoos were popular in Europe between the years 1870 and 1940.
These exhibitions attracted many people. They were often based on harmful ideas like scientific racism and social Darwinism. These ideas wrongly suggested that some human groups were "less evolved" than others. Because of these beliefs, some human zoos placed indigenous people (especially from Africa) in displays that suggested they were somewhere between apes and people of European descent. Today, these ethnographic zoos are seen as extremely degrading and racist.
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What Were Human Zoos?
Human zoos were public displays of people from non-Western cultures. They were also called "ethnological expositions" or "colonial exhibitions." People were often brought from Africa, Asia, and the Americas to be shown in these displays. The goal was often to show how different these cultures were from European society.
How Were People Displayed?
In human zoos, people were often shown in recreated villages or natural settings. These settings were supposed to look like their home environments. However, these displays were often not accurate. The people were sometimes made to wear traditional clothing or perform certain activities. Visitors would watch them from behind fences or barriers, much like watching animals in a zoo.
When Did Human Zoos Exist?
The peak time for human zoos was from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. They were very popular in many European cities, including Paris, London, Hamburg, and Brussels. World's Fairs and colonial exhibitions often featured these human displays. While most ended by the 1940s, some isolated examples occurred even later.
Why Did Human Zoos Exist?
Human zoos were a product of their time. They were linked to the ideas of colonialism and imperialism. European countries were expanding their empires around the world. These exhibitions helped to show the "exotic" people and cultures from the lands they had colonized.
Harmful Beliefs
These shows were also based on harmful and unscientific ideas.
- Scientific racism: This was a false belief that different human races were biologically different and that some were superior to others.
- Social Darwinism: This was a misapplication of Charles Darwin's ideas about natural selection to human societies. It wrongly suggested that some human groups were naturally "fitter" or more "evolved" than others.
- Unilineal evolution: This idea claimed that all societies developed along a single path, with European society at the top. It suggested that other cultures were "primitive" or "less developed."
These ideas were used to justify the displays. They made it seem acceptable to treat people from other cultures as objects of curiosity rather than as equals.
The Impact of Human Zoos
Human zoos had a very negative impact on the people who were displayed. They were often taken far from their homes and families. They faced harsh conditions, including illness and poor treatment. Being stared at and treated like an animal was deeply humiliating and dehumanizing.
A Legacy of Racism
Today, human zoos are widely condemned as a clear example of racism and exploitation. They showed people as "others" and reinforced harmful stereotypes. They contributed to the idea that some groups of people were inferior. This legacy of prejudice and discrimination continues to be discussed and understood today.
Images for kids
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A group of Igorot displayed at a human zoo during the St. Louis World's Fair
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An African girl fed by the outstretched hand of a white patron during 1958 Brussels World's Fair featuring 'Congo Village' with visitors watching her from behind wooden fences.
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Poster for an anthropological exhibition in Paris, c. 1870
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Ad for a Carl Hagenbeck show (1886)
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Ad for an 1893/1894 ethnological exposition of Sámi in Hamburg-Saint Paul
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Grand Colonial Exhibition (Meiji Memorial Takushoku Expo) at Tennoji Park, Osaka in 1913 (明治記念拓殖博覧会（台湾土人ノ住宅及其風俗）)
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See also
In Spanish: Zoológico humano para niños
