Childhood

Question 1

what is the definition of a ‘child’ ?

Answer 1

a person under 18 years old, who is classified as dependent.

Question 2

why are children seen as dependent?

Answer 2

they are

• psychologically immature
• physically immature
• vulnerable

Question 3

Who said that ‘childhood is socially constructed’?

Answer 3

WAGG

Question 4

what does the term ‘childhood is socially constructed’ mean?

Answer 4

• childhood has been created and defined by society at the time
• based on norms and values of the time
• it is not fixed or universal, so there is no single childhood experienced by all

Question 5

what are the three ways in which childhood differs?

Answer 5

1= CULTURE
2=TIME
3= SITUATION

Question 6

what did PILCHER say about childhood in western notion of childhood?

Answer 6

• SEPARATENESS
• children occupy a separate status to adults
• childhood is a special time of life
• ‘golden age’ of innocence and happiness

Question 7

who studied the MEDIEVAL CHILD to find out how time affects childhood?

Answer 7

ARIES

Question 8

what did aries say about the medieval child?

Answer 8

• no distinctions between adults and children
• no separateness, seen as the same
• children were ‘mini-adults’ in all aspects
• childhood didn’t exist
• children had the same rights, duties, punishments, etc as adults.

Question 9

what does aries’ discovery about the medieval child tell us about childhood?

Answer 9

that childhood is a recent social invention

Question 10

what was said about how situation can affect childhood in the western childhood?

Answer 10

• relative childhood, our experiences are different

- in relation to eachother

Question 11

in the UK, how many people live in poverty, affecting their childhood?

Answer 11

2.1 million

Question 12

what are the two main reasons why there is a DARK SIDE to childhood?

Answer 12

• not every childhood experience in the UK is the ‘golden age’
• there is 20,000 calls to childline every year

Question 13

what did DE MAUSE say in 1974 about the history of childhood?

Answer 13

‘the history of childhood is a nightmare from which we have only recently begun to awaken’

Question 14

what nightmares did children face?

Answer 14

-abuse
-child labour
-death, families deaths
-low standards of living
-neglect
etc

Question 15

what does the march of progress suggest about childhood?

Answer 15

• childhood is the best it’s ever been

- slow + gradual improvement in the experiences of childhood.

Question 16

who does the improvement of childhood only apply to?

Answer 16

• western notion

- based on situation found in

Question 17

what are the main reasons for the change in childhood?

Answer 17

• change in social attitudes
• decrease in infant mortality rate
• child protection laws
• compulsory education
• banned child labour
• change in family size
• industrialisation
• numerate + literate workforce was needed
• introduction of NHS
• UN Convention on Rights of Children

Question 18

what would there be more of (3 things) if child protection laws weren’t put into place?

Answer 18

• teenage pregnancy
• child alcoholism
• child smoking

Question 19

who said that children’s songs, rhymes and toys show evidence of ‘separate children’s culture.’

Answer 19

OPIE

Question 20

what does OPIES theory show?

Answer 20

• a positive focus on children
• things are now just designed for children
• leads to child-centredness and quality>quantity

Question 21

what is the CONFLICT VIEW on childhood?

Answer 21

• don’t think childhood is the best it’s been
• childhood is too controlled
• childhood is disappearing
• childhood is worse/toxic

Question 22

what did GITTENS say about childhood being too controlled?

Answer 22

• age patriarchy= ruled by parents

- power imbalance (hierarchy) that exists between adults and children.

Question 23

what do parents control?

Answer 23

• time
• bodies
• access to resources
• space

Question 24

what are the 3 consequences of childhood being too controlled?

Answer 24

1- creation of helicopter parents
2- bubble wrap generation
3- rise in tiger mums

Question 25

why did PILCHER say that age patriarchy is necessary?

Answer 25

• childhood is more dangerous, protection needed
• media saturation, more adult media exposion
• reassurance and comfort
• maintain idea of ‘golden age’ during childhood

Question 26

why is childhood disappearing in terms of children?

Answer 26

• children turning into mini adults again

- death of childhood

Question 27

what did NEIL POSTMAN say about childhood disappearing?

Answer 27

‘childhood is disappearing at a dazzling rate.’

Question 28

what is the information hierarchy, and why has it broke down?

Answer 28

• it is the fact that newspapers were for adults so included adult contents, as children couldn’t read.
• it has broke down due to tech and social media, with them having access to the adult world.

Question 29

what is the impact of the breakdown of the information hierarchy?

Answer 29

• social blurring

- distinction between childhood and adulthood has become blurred

Question 30

why did LEE say that childhood is not disappearing?

Answer 30

• it’s just becoming more complicated
• children face different pressures
• they still have ‘childlike’ behaviour

Question 31

what did PALMER say about childhood becoming worse?

Answer 31

-rapid tech and cultural changes have damaged children’s PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, INTELLECTUAL development

Question 32

what did MARGO AND DIXON find about UK children?

Answer 32

they are the top of the international league for OBESITY, SELF HARM, DRUG/ALCOHOL USE, VIOLENCE, UNDERAGE SEX and TEENAGE PREGNANCY.