4 - Childhood Flashcards
What are the two key features of childhood according to Wyness? Describe them
Childhood and adult hood are achromous. They gradually acquire culture and the ability to socialise
Children are not seen as entities in their own right but incomplete beings. Adults are fully constitutes social beings
Wyness AO3
If biological, then everyone should pass through them at the same rate
Define social construction
The ideas about childhood are created by society, rather than being determined by the biological age of a child
What does Wagg say about childhood?
There is no single childhood experienced by all
What is childhood like in the west?
Special and innocent. Physically immature. Experience socialisation and nurture
Who talked about childhood in Australia? Describe it.
Benedict - Native Australians weren’t discouraged from playing sexual games
Who talked about childhood in Bolivia? Describe it.
Punch - Children over 5 expected to take work responsibilities
Who talked about childhood in Western Pacific Describe it.
Firth - A child doing what an adult says isn’t something to be granted.
Who says that Asian parents are stricter on girls?
Brannen
Who is the main person in Childhood?
Aries
What is childhood like in pre-industrial society?
Wasn’t protected or special. Treated as mini-adults
2 reasons why childhood is different in pre-industrial society (Aries)
High level of infant mortality
Financial reasons - work for family so economic potential
3 laws that protected childhoos
UN convention of the rights of a child
Compulsory education
Children’s act - investigate if suffering
4 ways society is child-centered
Baby food
Baby clothes
Flexible working
Baby classes
What are the 3 characteristics of childhood according to Cunningham? Describe them
Children are different from adults - physically and psychologically immature. Seen as vulnerable, not mini-adults
Childhood and adulthood are opposites - childhood lacks individuality, morality and maturity
Regarded as separate - distinct stage of life and need protection
What does Pilcher say about childhood?
Children are separate to adults as they have a different set of rights and responsibilities
How does Pollock criticise Aries?
Pollock AO3
He used paintings - only MC/UC could afford to be painted so not representative.
Can’t do primary research and is is valid
Aries AO3 - Concept
Childhood is very different globally
4 reasons for the change of position of childhood
Children protection laws
Compulsory education
Decline infant mortality
Contraception
What does Jenks believe?
Childhood is different between cultures but it is constantly changing. Society is being more child-centred
Who believes that childhood differs between different cultures and it is changing?
Jenks
Who is Shorter?
Functionalist
What does Shorter believe?
Childhood has a functional fit with the economy
Who argues that childhood is oppressive and people want to escape it
Hockey and James
What do children liberationists belive?
Laws oppress children
What does Gittens belive?
Adults force children to depend on them so they can maintain authority. Called age patriarchy
Who argues that children today are too privileged?
Phillips
4 ways adults make children depend on them
Resources - limited access to money
Space - regulate movement
Time - control TV, sleep
Bodies - How to sit, walk
The idea of parenting has been distorted by ………. …….
Liberal ideas
Describe the two trends Phillips argues undermined childhood
The idea of parenting has been distorted by liberal ideas as children have too many rights and powers
Media and peer group have been more influential than parents
Does Furedi support Phillips? Why?
Yes - era of paranoid parenting and over-exaggerating threats children face
Marxists argue that the experience of childhood differs depending on …………………
Social class
Which 2 people talk about social class and childhood. What did they say?
Howard - WC households more likely to neglect kids
Woodroffe - WC mothers have less heavy babies (delayed physical and mental development)
Which 2 people talk about ethnic differences and childhood. What did they say?
Brannen - Asian parents are stricter with girls than with boys
Bhatti - Izzat (family honour) impacts children’s experiences
Which 2 people talk about gender differences and childhood. What did they say?
Hillman et al - Boys could stay out after dark but girls have to have a bedroom culture(less freedom)
Firestone - childhood hasn’t improved as there is still inequality between adults and children
What does Postman argue?
Childhood is quickly disappearing (mainly TV as no socialisation and false ides of reality)
Who argues that childhood is changing, not disappearing?
Opie
Who created the idea of Toxic Childhood?
Palmer
What does Palmer say about technology?
Beneficial as enrich our lives
Negative as parents use them as an alternate to parenting
What does Lee think about childhood?
Childhood is complex and ambiguous
What is pester power? Who talks about it?
Pugh - Children manipulate their parents to spend money. Parents spend money as they feel guilty about not spending time with them
What did Evans and Chandler find about consumption?
Peer pressure is important for consumption
AO3 - Palmer
Womack - childhood is only toxic and disappearing for poor children
