8. Is Childhood a Social Construct?

Question 1

What are social constructs

Answer 1

an organisation created by society to serve a purpose and function
it is only real if we make it real
money- paper and metal
nations- share language and history
books- words on pages in order

Question 2

What words are associated with childhood now?

Answer 2

Innocent
education
colourful
playful
simple

Question 3

What is differs between child and adult?

Answer 3

dress, actions, attitudes, expectations etc

Question 4

What did Jane Pilcher 1995 say about childhood?

Answer 4

the most important feature of modern ideas of childhood is separateness
clear split between the life of a child and an adult

Question 5

What is Cross Cultural Evidence

Answer 5

supports the view that childhood is a social construction as it is not the same everywhere

Question 6

How do the IK tribe in North Uganda treat their children?

Answer 6

3 year olds leave compound to fend for themselves in a fight for survival

Question 7

What happens in Tikopia?

Answer 7

children take part in dangerous and physical activity
not expected to obey adults too

Question 8

Who are the child soldiers?

Answer 8

2007 amnesty international estimates there are 300,000 child soldiers
transition between child and adulthood is very short
get used as soldiers, trained on guns, taught how to fight so they can protect their own families

Question 9

What did Stephen Wagg 1992 state?

Answer 9

there is no such thing as universal childhood
it is a social construct

Question 10

What is a comparison of childhood to western norms in work life?

Answer 10

Bolivia- children work from age 5
West- kids get a job at 13, proper work from 16+

Question 11

What is a comparison of childhood to western norms in disability?

Answer 11

Alt- welcomed, given specials roles in tribal units
West- put into institutions and kept hidden from society

Question 12

What is a comparison of childhood to western norms in marriage?

Answer 12

Lebanon- age 9 married
Sudan- hit puberty
UK- not legal before age 18

Question 13

What is a comparison of childhood to western norms in consent?

Answer 13

Angola, Phillippines- 12,13,14
UK - 16+

Question 14

What is a comparison of childhood to western norms in driving?

Answer 14

New Zealand- 16
USA - 15
Nigeria - 14
UK - 17

Question 15

What is Globalisation

Answer 15

Ideas spreading across different cultures

Question 16

What is globalisation of the western world?

Answer 16

charity work visiting countries seen as third world, saving kids from alternative childhoods
western understanding of how childhood should be, is a cultural hegemony

Question 17

What is Cultural Hegemony

Answer 17

when one culture is seen as dominant over another

Question 18

What is the difference in responsibility level according to Punch?

Answer 18

in Bolivia you are expected to take on responsibility age 5 for home and community jobs

Question 19

What is the difference in value of obeying adults according to Firth?

Answer 19

doing what your told is a concession to obey adults rather than taken for granted
earn respect not just take it

Question 20

What is the difference in children’s sexual behaviour according to Malinonski?

Answer 20

children are allowed to explore sexual relation and sexuality
tolerance and amused interest

Question 21

What are child labour laws in the UK?

Answer 21

only start full time work once they’ve left education 18, up to 40 hours a week
not during school or between 7am-7pm
16-17 = £6.40 a week
13-16 = 12 hours a week
14 = 5 hours, 15 - 8 hours
part work from age 13-14

Question 22

What are child labour laws in other countries?

Answer 22

Bolivia - age 10 help out
get $46 a month = £72
in 2008 there was 800000 child workers
49100 U14
1/10 kids in forced labour
In china no work until age 16

Question 23

How has childhood changed over time?

Answer 23

in the industrial revolution it didn’t exist

Question 24

What was childhood like in the 1960s, according to Phillipe Aries

Answer 24

used paintings
childhood is a new invention
middle ages- worked from when you could walk
mini adults, no separate laws for kids, punished as severely

Question 25

What did Shorter 1975 think about childhood?

Answer 25

high infant mortality rate encouraged indifference and neglect children weren't named and parents forget how many they had

Question 26

What was childhood in the 12-16th century?

Answer 26

age was not significant high mortality rate in infants parents mourning was minimal worked asap dressed as mini adults not innocent or protected from sexuality

Question 27

What was childhood in the 16-19th century?

Answer 27

children worked from age 7 upper class sent kids to school fees Factor Acts banned children from working in mines and factories End of 19th, elementary state education compulsory in most of Europe

Question 28

What was childhood in the 19-21th century?

Answer 28

decline in infant mortality rate, family size maternal and paternal love, recognition for special needs development of experts on kids growth in policies to protect kids

Question 29

What was the problem with Aries research?

Answer 29

based on a small number of French Aristocrats not truly representative no concept on childhood in middle ages so it was simply different

Question 30

what is the march of progress

Answer 30

children's lives are better because of the child centred society

Question 31

what are the 2 conflicting views about the nature of childhood

Answer 31

march of progress conflict view- toxic childhood

Question 32

what is child centred ness

Answer 32

describes the way family unit has become centred on the needs of children rather than the needs of adults happened over the latest part of 20/21st century

Question 33

what does the 1989 Children Act state?

Answer 33

the childs welfare must be paramount. used for custody divorce cases the childrens view is taken into account moves away from 'children should be seen and not heard' etc

Question 34

what does the March of Progress say on childhood

Answer 34

position of children in western society is improving steadily and today is better than ever

Question 35

What does Lloyd De Mause 74 say about the March of Progress

Answer 35

the history of childhood is a nightmare only recently awakened. the further back in the history one goes, the lower level of child care, more likely to be killed, abandoned, beaten, terrorised and sexually abused.

Question 36

reasons for why we are a child centred society now?

Answer 36

changes in family size role of capitalism role of the media greater understanding of childhood legislation

Question 37

how has size of the family changed childhood

Answer 37

contraception, condoms, abortion etc live longer, invest etc focus on how big you want it, can choose, family planning etc 1930-40s- 2+ kids by age 30 1967- 1.9 by age 30 1982- 1 child by 30

Question 38

how has legislation changed childhood

Answer 38

safeguarding, schools and clubs monitor it protect vulnerable children child rape is illegal education until 18 cant work until 13

Question 39

how has greater understanding of children changed chidlhood

Answer 39

childhood health- paediatrics vaccine programs etc immunisations, sanitations child development, safety and security in the home awareness of issues of childhood happiness

Question 40

how has the role of the media changed childhood

Answer 40

more panics about young adults heightens parents fears children are born into digital ages with education and social interactions focuses on goods consumption and marketing agencies target parents and kids