childhood

Question 1

why do sociologists see childhood as socially constructed?

Answer 1

it varies between societies, within societies and historically, over time

Question 2

what are the features of the modern western notion of childhood?

Answer 2

children is a special, innocent time of life
children are fundamentally different from adults so they need a length and protected period of nurturing and socialisation
Pilcher says the key feature is separateness, childhood is a clear and distinct stage separate from adults

Question 3

how are children in simpler, non-industrial societies treated differently from those in the west?

Answer 3

Benedict (less division between adults and children)
they take more responsibility at an early age e.g. Punch found that children in rural Bolivia are expected to work from five years old
less value is placed on obedience to adult authority
childrens sexual behaviour is viewed differently e.g. Trobriand Islanders, adults took an attitude of tolerance and amused interest towards childrens sexual explorations and activities

Question 4

what did Aries say about childhood in medieval Europe?

Answer 4

the idea of childhood did not exist

• children were not seen as having a different nature from adults
• work began from an early age
• children were ‘mini-adults’ with the same rights, duties and skills as adults

Question 5

what are the reasons for the lack of childhood in medieval Europe?

Answer 5

Shorter

parental attitudes were very different, high death rates encouraged indifference and neglect, especially towards infants

Question 6

what showed the modern notion of childhood emerging in the 13th century?

Answer 6

Aries (emergence of the modern ‘cult of childhood’)
schools began to specialise only in the education of the young (previously adults attended)
Church increasingly saw children as fragile ‘creatures of god’ needing discipline and protection
by 18th century handbooks on childrearing widely available showing the child-centredness of family life

Question 7

reasons for changes in the position of children

Answer 7

lower infant mortality rate and smaller families (greater financial and emotional investment)
laws banning child labour (children went from economic assets to economic liabilities)
compulsory schooling (separating children from adult world of work)
child protection and welfare laws

Question 8

what do sociologists see as the underlying cause for changes in the position of children?

Answer 8

industrialisation
modern industry needs an educated workforce so compulsory education is needed
higher standards of living from industrialisation lead to lower infant mortality rates

Question 9

why do some argue that childhood is disappearing?

Answer 9

Postman
television replacing print culture
in print culture children can’t read creating an information hierarchy
television makes information available to adults and children alike, breaking down the boundary between them

Question 10

how is the ‘disappearance of childhood’ criticised?

Answer 10

Opie says childhood is not disappearing, a separate childrens culture continues to exist in the forms of games, songs, jokes etc

Question 11

how has childhood changed in postmodern society?

Answer 11

Jenks disagrees with Postman, childhood is changing not disappearing
adults relationships become more unstable (e.g. more divorce) so relationships with their children become adults last refuge from insecurity

they become even more fearful for their children’s safety leading to even greater regulation of childrens life

Question 12

criticisms of Jenk’s notion of childhood in postmodernity

Answer 12

there is limited evidence to support him
any evidence that parents see their relationship with their children as more important than their partner comes from small, unrepresented studies

Question 13

what is the march of progress view of the position of children?

Answer 13

Aries and Shorter

children’s position has been steadily improving and is better today than it has ever been

Question 14

how has the family and society become ‘child-centred’?

Answer 14

children are better cared for in terms of their educational, psychological and medical needs
higher living standers and smaller family sizes means parents can afford to provide for childrens needs

Question 15

what is toxic childhood?

Answer 15

Palmer
rapid technological and cultural changes are damaging children’s development e.g. junk food, computer games. so children are deprived of a genuine childhood

Question 16

evidence of toxic childhood in the UK

Answer 16

UK youth are at or near the top of league tables for obesity, self harm, drug and alcohol abuse

UNICEF ranked the UK 21st out of 25 for childrens well being

Question 17

how does the conflict view criticise the march of progress view?

Answer 17

conflict theorists e.g. marxists and feminists criticise the march of progress view because:
there are inequalities among children (opportunities and risks)
there are inequalities between children and adults (control, oppression and dependency)

Question 18

what are inequalities among children?

Answer 18

gender differences - girls expected to do more housework
ethnic differences - asian parents were more likely than other parents to be strict towards their daughters
class inequalities - poor children more likely to die in infancy or do badly in school

Question 19

what are inequalities between children and adults?

Answer 19

‘child liberationists’ such as Firestone argue that extensive care and protection are new forms of oppression e.g. being banned from paid work is a new for of inequality

Question 20

criticisms of child liberationists

Answer 20

they ignore how adults use their power to benefit children e.g. passing laws against child abuse

control is justified from because children cannot make rational decisions so unable to safeguard themselves

Question 21

what is the age patriarchy?

Answer 21

Gittins says age patriarchy of adult domination that keeps children subordinate

Question 22

examples of age patriarchy

Answer 22

adults exercise control over children’s:
time (e.g.bedtime, TV time)
space (e.g. where they are allowed to go)
bodies (e.g. what they eat and wear)
access to resources , economically dependent on parents (e.g. pocket money dependent on good behaviour)

Question 23

what is the cause of neglect and abuse?

Answer 23

adult control can lead to physical, sexual or emotional abuse
40,000 children on the child protection register

Question 24

evidence that children may experience childhood as oppressive

Answer 24

children resist the restricted status of ‘child’ by acting older e.g. smoking and drinking alcohol
Hockey and James says this shows children want to escape modern childhood

Question 25

what is the new sociology of childhood?

Answer 25

sees children as active agents who play a major part in creating their own childhood e.g. Smart’s study of divorce found children were actively involved in trying to make the situation better

explores the many diverse childhoods that exist by taking the child’s viewpoint (favoured by child liberationists because shows children often lack power in relation to adults)