Childhood Flashcards
What does socially constructed mean?
Something created and defined by society.
What is the modern western notion of childhood?
Children are seen as vulnerable and in need of protection. They lead lives of leisure and play and are largely excluded from paid work. Childhood is seen as a ‘golden age’ of happiness and innocence.
In what 3 ways does Ruth Benedict argue that children in simpler, non-industrial societies are generally treated differently from their modern western counterparts?
- they take responsibility at an early age e.g. children in Bolivia are expected to work at the age of 5.
- Less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
- children’s sexual behaviour is often viewed differently
Who talks about historical differences in childhood? (how childhood has changed overtime)
Aries
What does Aries argue?
In the middle ages, childhood didn’t exist and children weren’t seen as having a different nature or needs from adults. As soon as they were able, children entered wider society and began work (mini-adults and economic assets) and the law made no distinction between children and adults.
However, children are now seen as economic burdens.
What evidence did Aries use to support his view?
He used works of art from the period where children and adults were dressed the same and working/playing together.
How can Aries’ research be challenged?
It was based on rich children so wasn’t representative/generalisable to the whole population.
In what ways does Aries say the modern cult of childhood emerged?
- schools (which adults had previously attended) came to specialise purely in the education of the young (reflected influence of church)
- Growing distinction between children’s and adult’s clothing
- by the 18th century handbooks on childrearing were widely available (a sign of growing child centredness)
What are the reasons for the changes in the position of children?
- Laws restricting child labour and excluding children from paid work. Children changed from being economic assets to economic burdens.
- Compulsory education 1880 – economic burdens staying in education till 18/21
- Child protection and welfare legislation
- The growth of the idea of children’s rights
- Declining family size and lower infant mortality rate
- Children’s development became the subject of medical knowledge
- Laws and policies that apply specifically to children
Who talks about the disappearance of childhood?
Neil Postman
What does Neil Postman argue?
Sociologist Neil Postman argues that childhood is “disappearing at dazzling speed” and blames this on television culture. In the past there was an information hierarchy as children couldn’t read but adults could. This meant adults had the power to keep knowledge, sex, money, death and other adult matters from children enabling them to remain ignorant and innocent from the dangers of the world. However children now have access to this knowledge via TV as it is easy to access and retain information: therefore breaking down the boundaries between adults and children and diminishing adult authority. By destroying the information hierarchy, children are exposed to the dangers of the real world and no longer remain innocent.
How can Postman be criticised and who by?
However Iona Opie argues that childhood isn’t disappearing. Her and her husband researched children’s unsupervised games, rhymes and songs and they found strong evidence of the continued existence of a separate children’s culture over many years.
What does the March of Progress view argue?
The march of progress view argues that the position of children in society has been improving over the past few centuries and today it is better than it has ever been. Their view paints a dark picture of the past, describing the history of childhood as a nightmare from which we only recently begun to awaken.
Which sociologists hold a March of Progress view?
Aries and Shorter
What do Aries and Shorter say?
Aries and Shorter say today’s children are more valued, better cared for, protected and educated, enjoy better health and have more rights. Children have higher chances of survival due to better healthcare and laws protect them from abuse and labour.
