Document Type
Presentation
Date
2-27-2026
Language
English
Disciplines
Digital Humanities
Description/Abstract
Plastics emerged after World War II as a material associated with progress, cleanliness, and possibility. In medicine, plastic replaced fragile glass tools and enabled inexpensive, standardized production of devices such as syringes and medicine dispensers. Yet the rise of pediatrics concerned itself with the emotional needs of children raises questions about whether this flexible material was used to create more child-friendly forms of care. Using materials from the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) Plastics Collection at Syracuse University Libraries, including a plastic liquid medicine dispenser (“Medi-Server”), archival advertisements for Plastipak, glass syringes, and historical patents for pediatric medicine devices and syringe covers, this project investigates how has the introduction of plastic in the late 20th century influence pediatric design and the role of institutionalization play in the culture of sterility in the United States? To address this question, the project employed archival research and comparative material analysis of primary sources. Artifacts were examined for their material composition, visual design, and intended use, with particular attention to differences between pediatric and general medical devices. The findings suggest that although plastic allowed for imaginative redesign, pediatric tools largely retained clinical, standardized forms. Rather than transforming devices into comforting or playful objects, plastic was absorbed into existing medical systems that prioritized sterility and authority. This project demonstrates that new materials do not automatically produce new forms of care; instead, they are shaped by the institutional priorities of the systems in which they operate.
Recommended Citation
Zheng, Irene, "Molding Childhood: Plastic’s Influence in Pediatric Care" (2026). SOURCE Explore Program. 15.
https://surface.syr.edu/source/15
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
