1. CHILDHOOD as a SOCIAL CONSTRUCT Flashcards
What does it Mean by CHILDHOOD being a SOCIAL CONSTRUCT
something CREATED and DEFINE by SOCIETY.
argue that what People Man By Childhood, and the Position that Children Occupy in Society isn’t Fixed
What are the 3 Subtopics of Childhood being a Social Construct
- CROSS CULTURAL Differences
- HISTORICAL DIFFERENCES in Childhood
- DIFFERENCES Between Children in the SAME SOCIETY
Explain the CROSS CULTURAL DIFFERENCES in CHILDHOOD
- Many Countries today, SMALL CHILDREN are EXPECTED to Take On At An EARLY AGE ADULT RESPONSIBILITIES , many of them being AGAINGST the LAW for CHILDREN
- LESS DEVELOPED Nations, Children are CONSTANTLY at RISK of EARLY DEATH as a Result of POVERTY and LACK of BASIC HEALTHCARE
- LESS LIKELY to have ACCESS to EDUCATION
Explain the HISTORICAL DIFFERENCES in Childhood - Pre Industrial Family
ARIES (1973) - MEDIEVAL Times, Childhood DIDN’T EXIST as a Separate Status. CHILDREN Seen as MINATURE VERSIONS of Adults - ‘little adult’ - EXPECTED to Take on ADULT ROLES and RESPONSIBILITIES as Soon as Physically Able
- Wore ADULT CLOTHES, TOYS and SCHOOL DIDN’T EXIST, CHILD LABOUR Commonly Practised and Accepted
Explain the HISTORICAL DIFFERENCES in Childhood - Industrial Family
FATHER often had a GREAT DEAL of AUTORITY Over Other Family Members. Had LITTLE INVOLEMENT in the CARE of their CHILDREN.
Children might See Little Of their Parents, Had LOW STATIS , Expected to be “Seen and Not Heard ‘
ARIES - SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION of CHILDHOOD Linked to INDUSTRIALISATION. Restrictions to Protect from Exploitation. Began to be Seen as INNOCENT. Technological Change
Explain the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHILDREN IN THE SAME SOCIETY - GENDER - mcrobbie
MCROBBIE (2000) - GIRLS’S EXPEREICE of Childhood may DIFFER from BOYS as PARENTS SEE Them In Need of GREATER PROTECTION From Outside World. This Means they’re SUBJECTED to STRICTER Social Controls From Parents, when they Reach Adolesence, and Consequenlty SPEND MORE TIME in the Family HOME than Brother
Explain the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHILDREN IN THE SAME SOCIETY - GENDER - Sharpe -
show BOYS & GIRLS SOCILAISED into a SET of BEHAVIOURS BASED on Cultural EXPECTATIONS about FEMINITY and MASCULINITY
GIRLS have a QUALITATIVELY Different Experience in Terms of Toys received, Nature of Play Activities, Chores Done at Home.
TAUGHT SKILLS and Attributes to PERFORM ADULT TOLE of HOME-MAKER and MOTHER
Explain the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHILDREN IN THE SAME SOCIETY - SOCIAL CLASS
UPPER CLASS CHILDREN - Spend Most of Their Formative Years in PRIVATE BOARDING SCHOOLS
M/C may be Encouraged from an Early Age to Aim for Uni and a Professional Career, Likely to Receive considerable Economic and Cultural Support from Their Parents
Explain the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHILDREN IN THE SAME SOCIETY - SOCIAL CLASS
UPPER CLASS CHILDREN - Spend Most of Their Formative Years in PRIVATE BOARDING SCHOOLS
M/C may be Encouraged from an Early Age to Aim for Uni and a Professional Career, Likely to Receive considerable Economic and Cultural Support from Their Parents
Explain the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHILDREN IN THE SAME SOCIETY - SOCIAL CLASS - Lareau (20011)
found that S/C influences Patterns of Family Life and Childhood
Experience of M/C CHILDHOOD was SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED by Parents who were Engaged on a ‘Concerted Cultivation of Children.
Enrolled children at a Young Age in a range of Specific Cultural Activities, Parents Take to Museums
W/C - EMPHAISES ‘ NATURAL GROWTH of their Children - believed AS Long Child Provided with LOVE, FOOD, they’d Grow Up to be HEALTHY and WELL ROUNDED Individuals
ETHNICITY FACTORS
What are 3 REASONS for CHANGES in the POSITION OF CHILDHOOD
- LAWS RESTRICTING CHILD LABOUR and EXLCUDING CHILD FROM PAID WORK
- CHILD PROTECTION and WELFARE LEGISLATION
- DECLINING FAMILY SIZE and LOWER INFANT MORTALITY RATES
Explain how LAWS RESTRICTING CHILD LABOUR and EXCLUDING CHILDREN from PAID WORK have Changed the Position of Childhood
FROM Being ECONOMIC ASSETS who Could EARN a WAGE, Children BECOME an ECONOMIC LIABILITY , Financially Dependant On their Parents
Explain how CHILD PROTECTION AND WELFARE LEGISLATION have Changed the Position of Childhood
CHILD PROTECTION and WELFARE LEGISLATION Such as the
1889 PREVENTION of CRUELTY to CHILDREN ACT. A Century Later, the 1989 CHILDREN ACT made the WELFARE of the CHILD the FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE Underpinning the Work of Agencies such as Social Services
Explain how DECLINING FAMILY SIZE and LOWER INFANT MORTALITY RATES have Changed the Position of Childhood
DECLINING FAMILY SIZE and LOWER INFANT MORTALITY RATES have ENCOURAGED PARENTS to Make a Greater Financial and Emotional Investment in the Fewer Children that they now have
