2 Childhood Flashcards
Childhood as social construct
Sociologists see childhood not as a natural category, but socially constructed. I.e defined and created by society. What is seen as childhood varies: Between societies (cross cultural differences) Within societies (e.g. between different classes) Historically, over time
These differences illustrate key sociological idea that childhood not fixed in same form in all societies- different cultures construct it differently.
Childhood as social construct- Cross cultural differences in childhood
Benedict 1934
Argues children in simpler, non industrial societies are treated differently from modern western counterparts:
ROS
-They have more Responsibility at home/work
-Less value placed on Obedience to adult authority
-Children’s Sexual behaviour often viewed differently
Also behaviour expected of children and adults are clearly less separated
Childhood as social construct- Childhood in the West
Unlike simpler societies, modern Western notion of childhood has following features:
- Childhood seen special/ Innocent time of life
- Children fundamentally Different from adults- physically immature and not competent to run their own lives
- Result, need Lengthy, protected period of nurturing and socialisation
- Childhood is Distinct life stage- ‘child’ separate status from ‘adult’. Pilcher 1995, the key feature of modern idea of childhood is separateness
- Cunningham 2007 children seen as Opposite to adults with right to happiness.
Historical differences in childhood
Position of children differs over time.
Modern Western idea of childhood relatively recent invention
Aries 1960- in medieval Europe the idea of childhood did not exist
NEM
-> they weren’t seen as having different nature from adults
-> work began from early age
-> children were mini adults with same rights/ duties/ skills as adults
Historical differences in childhood Shorter
Short 1975-
Parental attitudes towards children were very different
E.g. High child death rates encouraged indifference and neglect, especially towards infants.
Historical differences in childhood
Modern notion of childhood
Began to emerge in the 13th century
- > schools began specialise only in education of young
- > church increasingly saw children as ‘fragile creatures of God’ needing discipline and protection from worldly evils
- > growing distinction between children’s and adult’s clothing, setting children apart from adults
Aries- result is modern cult of childhood. The 20th century was the century of the child.
Historical differences in childhood- why has the position of children changed?
Due to major social changes during the 19th and 20th centuries.
- lower infant mortality and smaller families- surviving infants means parents have fewer children and made a greater emotional/ financial investment in them
- specialist knowledge about children’s health e.g. theories of child development stressed children need supervision and protection.
- compulsory schooling since 1880 created period of dependency on the family and separated children from the adult world of work
- the idea of children’s rights e.g. the children act 1989 sees parents having responsibilities towards their children rather than their rights
Industrialisation underlying cause.
E.g. Modern industry needs educated workforce so compulsory education is needed.
Higher living standards from industrialisation lead to lower infant fatality
Why position of children changed- laws
- laws banning child labour from 1840s meant children weren’t economic assets but economic liabilities, financially dependent.
- child protection and welfare laws and agencies emphasised children’s vulnerability and made their welfare a central concern
- laws about social behaviour e.g. Minimum ages for a range of activities from sex 2 smoking reinforce attitude that child different from adults.
The future of children
Postman 1994 argues childhood as we know it is disappearing (lost in the post)
Children are becoming more like adults- gaining similar rights and acting in similar ways e.g. clothing, leisure, even crime.
The future of childhood
Postman television culture
For postman, television culture replacing print:
- > in print culture, children lacked literacy skills needed to access information, so adults could keep knowledge about sex, money, violence, illness, death and other ‘adult’ matters secret.
- > television culture makes info available to adults and children alike. The boundary between adult and childhood broken down and adult authority weakened.
The future of childhood
Opie
Opie 1993 (pie 3) Believes childhood is not disappearing E.g. A separate children's culture continues to exist in the form of games, songs, jokes etc.
Others argue Western norms of what childhood should be- a separate life stage, based in nuclear family and school- are being exported globally.
Western ‘childhood’ is not disappearing, but spreading.
The future of childhood
Childhood and postmodernity
Jenks 2005
Argues modern society created childhood to prepare individual to become a productive future adult.
To achieve this, the vulnerable, undeveloped child needed to be nurtured and protected.
In postmodernity, adults’ relationships become more unstable (e.g. More divorce).
Relationships with their children become adults refuge from insecurity. They become even more fearful for child’s safety- leading to even greater regulation of children’s lives.
Has the position of children improved?
The march of progress view
Aries, Shorter and others argue children’s position has been steadily improving and today is better than its ever been.
Family and society become more child centred.
-> Children better cared for educationally/ psychologically/ medically
-> Most babies now survive: infant mortality rate in 1900 was 154, now it’s 4 (150 less)
-> Higher living standards and smaller family sizes mean parents can afford to provide for children’s needs
-> Children protected from harm and exploitation by laws against child abuse and labour
Has the position of children improved? Toxic childhood
Palmer 2006 (6 letters)
Argues rapid technological and cultural changes damaging child development.
E.g. Junk food, computer games, intensive marketing to children, testing in education, long hours worked by parents.
As result, children deprived of genuine childhood.
-> Uk youth are at or near top of international league tables for obesity, self harm, drug/ alcohol abuse, violence and teen pregnancy
-> UNICEF 2007 ranked Uk 21st/ 25 for child well being
Has position of children improved?
Conflict view
Conflict theorists e.g. marxists, feminists, argue march of progress views are over generalised and idealised image.
Ignores inequalities among children and between children and adults.
