Leading strings

A leash was until 1800 a common walker for toddlers. Gängelbänder been around since the late Middle Ages, but mainly used in the 18th century in children up to the age of six at the higher strata of society, especially at the courts of the nobility.

Form and function

Gängelbänder usually consisted of two long strips that were sewn to the back side of the garments at the rear of sleeves or in a harness -like holding device. Seen clothing History Gängelbänder the former are so -called "wrong sleeves ," a relic of medieval hanging sleeves. They were used ( in various lengths ) as a walker and as a limitation of toddlers at a manageable space for movement. If they were that age outgrown Gängelbänder served as an aid to children around to keep ( " spoon-feed "), so they are not removed from the supervisor. Children were generally considered to the 18th century as a small adult. By the age of seven the year when they had fully learned to speak, then they were regarded as full-fledged adults, not wearing more clothes with leading-strings, but adult clothes and had to act accordingly.

But already in the second half of the 18th century changed with the rise of Enlightenment this setting. Jean -Jacques Rousseau wrote in 1762 in his novel of education " Émile ou De l' éducation " ( " Emile, or On the education" ), which is a huge success was in Europe, there is nothing " more ridiculous than the transition of people who as small children had been " led to long in leading-strings (quoted from the German edition by Martin Rank, Stuttgart 1990, p 183). Kant used " go-cart " and " conduction band " as a metaphor for non-independent thinking: " A revolution autocratic despotism and avaricious or tyrannical oppression, but never a true reform in ways of thinking might well come about, but, new prejudices, just as well as the old, serve as a leash of unthinking big pile. " ("What is Enlightenment? ", 1783)

Use of language and meaning

The verb " spoon-feed " has been used by Martin Luther. The term " leash " is first mentioned in 1716 lexically. In today's - as in the previous - use of language, the phrases " spoon-feed someone ", " spoon-feed " or " leading strings hanging " usually in a negative context used in the sense of restricting the freedom of action, leading to total dependence and paternalism. The German Foundation Liberal Network awards annually a " leash " as an anti- award " with a ( socio-) political decision-makers is excellent, has provided particularly true self-interest over the common good ."