1.3.2 Families and Households: Childhood Flashcards
The future of childhood
What does Opie say about children’s culture?
- Childhood is not disappearing but a separate children’s culture continues to exist.
- Based on jokes and games.
The future of childhood
Why does Postman believe that childhood is disappearing?
- Print culture is being replaced with television culture.
- This is removing the information heirarchy
- Giving children access to ‘adult’ content.
Has the position of childhood improved?
How does the ‘new sociology of childhood’ define children as active agents?
Not just passive objects for adults to shape, but play a role in creating their own childhoods.
Has the position of childhood improved?
What does Gittens argue that adults dominate over children?
(4)
- Their time
- Space - where they can go
- bodies - what they can wear
- economically - prevent them from working
Has the position of childhood improved?
What are the conflict view’s criticisms of march of progress?
(2)
- Marxists and feminists argue that the march of progress view is overgeneralised and idealised.
- Ignores inequalities among children and between children and adults.
Has the position of childhood improved?
Which theorists are in the conflict view?
Marxists and feminists
Has the position of childhood improved?
What ways does Palmer view childhood as harmful?
- ‘Toxic childhood’ - rapid development is damaging children’s development
- Junk food, computer games, testing in education
Has the position of childhood improved?
In what ways does the march of progress view believe that childhood has improved?
(4)
- Children are now better cared for in terms of educational, psycological, and medical needs.
- Most babies now survive - decline in infant mortality rate.
- Higher living standards and smaller family sizes means parents can provide for children’s needs.
- Children are protected from harm and exploitation by laws against child abuse and child labour.
Has the position of childhood improved?
Who are the key march of progress childhood theorists?
Aries and Shorter
Historical differences in childhood
What is the concept of industrialisation being an underlying cause for childhood?
- Modern industry needs skilled workers so compulsory education is needed.
- Higher living standards from industrialisation led to lower infant mortality rate.
Historical differences in childhood
Why has the position of childhood began to change?
(6)
- Lower infant mortality rate
- Specialist knowledge about children’s health
- Laws banning child labour
- Compulsory schooling
- Child protection and welfare laws
- The idea of children’s rights.
Historical differences in childhood
Which theorist came up with the ‘cult of childhood’?
Aries
Historical differences in childhood
What doesShorter say about parental attitudes towards children in the medieval?
High death rates encouraged neglect and indifference towards children.
Historical differences in childhood
What does Aries say about childhood in the medieval times?
- The concept of childhood did not exist.
- Children were not seen as ‘different’ from adults and began work from an early age.
Childhood as a social construct
How does Benedict argue that non-industrial cultures view children?
- They have more responsibility at work and at home.
- Less value is placed on obedience to adult authority.
