childhood Flashcards
what does Pilcher note?
the most important feature of modern childhood is separateness
childhood is seen as a distinct life stage where children occupy a separate status from adults
how is childhood seen as separate?
laws that regulate what children are allowed and not allowed to do
how they dress, products they use, toys, food, entertainment, books etc
what is the idea that a child’s status is known as the “golden age”
a time for happiness and innocence
however children can become vulnerable and in need of protection from dangers from the adult world; therefore they become separated from it
what is childhood is socially constructed?
its a made up phenomenon as all humans go through different experiences or processes
what do sociologists argue about how children are treated in other cultures?
they take responsibility at an early age - Punch’s study of childhood in rural Bolivia found that once children are about five years old they are expected to take work responsibilities in the home and in communities
less value is placed on children showing obedience to adults - Firth found in the Western Pacific, doing as your told is regarded as a must to be granted by a child
children’s sexual behaviour is often viewed differently - among islanders in south west pacific, Malinowski found adults took an attitude of tolerance towards children sexual activities
what does Benedict argue about how children are treated in other cultures?
in these cultures, there is much less of a dividing line between behaviour expected of children and adults showing childhood is not fixed
what is the globalisation of childhood?
welfare agencies have imposed on the rest of the world, western norms of what childhood should be: a separate life stage which children are kept innocent and protected by their family, having no economic role
campaigns against child labour or concerns of street children in developing countries reflect views of western ideas of how childhood ought to be
what does historian Aries argue about childhood in the middle ages?
childhood did not exist
soon after being weaned a child entered wider society on similar terms and being an adult beginning work from an early age as there was no laws to divide childhood and adulthood; therefore children were known as ‘mini adults’
why did Aries use artwork as evidence to show children were no different from adults?
artwork in the middle ages often didn’t show children and adults as distinguishable from each other as they were doing work or dressed in a similar way to adults
what does Shorter argue about children during the middle ages?
high death rates encouraged indifference and neglect towards infants as is was common for parents to not name their children
what does Aries note about elements of modern notions to childhood began to emerge?
schools came to educate the young
there was a growing distinction between children’s and adults clothing
handbooks on childrearing were available in the 18th century
what are some criticisms of Aries?
Pollack argues it is more correct to say that society in the middle ages had a different notion of childhood from today’s
why is Aries’ work valuable?
it shows childhood is a social construct and demonstrates how childhood has changes over time
what are some reasons for the change in position of children?
laws restricting child labour
compulsory schooling
child protection and welfare legislation
children’s rights
decreasing family size
lower IMR
wider medical knowledge
laws and policies
what does the process of industrialisation have to so with children?
modern industries need an educated workforce which requires schooling
what does Postman argue about the disappearance of childhood?
childhood is disappearing at a “dazzling speed”, describing a trend towards giving children the same rights as adults due to changes in television culture
what is the information hierarchy?
Postman argues childhood emerged as a separate status from 19th century onwards as the printed word created an information hierarchy which is a sharp division between adults (who can read) and children (who cannot)
this gave more power to adults as they had more knowledge about sex, money, violence, illness and death, keeping children innocent
what does Opie criticise about Postman? what does Postman overemphasise about TV?
argues childhood isn’t disappearing and that there is strong evidence of the continued existence of a separate children’s culture over many years
Postman overemphasises a single cause (TV) at the expense of other factors which influence development of childhood
what does Jenks argue?
childhood is not disappearing but simply changing
for Jenks, modern society was concerned with the ‘futurity’ of childhood
argues childhood is undergoing change as society is shifting to a postmodern society as relationships become less stable which generates a feeling of insecurity and fear for children
what is a criticism of Jenks?
he overgeneralises his statements as they imply all children are in the same position
what does the march of progress view argue?
over the years, the position of children in western societies has been steadily improving and today it’s better than it ever had been
what do Aries and Shorter argue about childhood in a march of progress view?
children are more valued, better cared for, educated, protected and healthier than previous generations
how much do parents spend on children?
by a child’s 21st birthday, parents will have spent over £227,000 on them
what is child-centredness?
families are more focused on a child, having high aspirations for them and to have a better life with greater opportunities
society as a whole is more child-centred (more leisure activities for children nowadays)
what does Palmer argue?
“toxic childhood”
arguing rapid technological and culture changes have damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development (junk food, computer games, marketing towards children and long hours worked by parents)
concerns have been expressed about children’s health and behaviour as obesity, self harm, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, sexual experiences and teenage pregnancies are above average rates
where does UNICEF rank the UK for children’s well-being?
in 2013 UNICEF ranked the UK 16 out of 29
what does the conflict view (marxists, feminists) argue about the march of progress view?
it’s based on false and idealised images that ignore important inequalities:
some children still remain unprotected and uncared for
children experience greater control, oppression and dependency
what are some national inequalities among children?
children of different nationalities are likely to experience different childhood and different life chances
what does Hillman argue about gender differences among children?
boys are more likely to be allowed to cross roads, used buses, go out after dark whereas girls are more likely to do domestic labour
what does Brannen argue about ethnic differences among children?
study of 15-16 year olds found Asian parents were more likely to be strict to their daughters than other parents
what are some important class differences among children?
poor mothers are more likely to have low birth weight babies, linked to delayed physical development
children born in poor families are more likely to die in infancy or suffer from long term illnesses
what does Firestone argue about the inequalities between children and adults?
protection from paid work is a form of inequality as it’s a way to forcibly segregate them which makes them more dependent and powerless
how many children were subject to child protection plans?
in 2013 43,000 children needed child protection as they were deemed to be at risk of significant harm, usually from their own parents (neglect and abuse)
how many phone calls does childline receive each year?
20,000 children call childline saying they have been sexually or physically abused showing a ‘darkside’ of a family in which children are the victim
what are some examples of control over children’s space?
children are told to play on certain areas
increasingly close surveillance over children in public spaces
fears about road safety and ‘stranger danger’ have led more children to be driven to school (in 1971, 86% of primary school children were allowed to travel home from school alone whereas in 2010 this had fallen by 25%)
what are some examples of control over children’s time?
adults have control over children’s daily routines (when to get up, go out, play, eat, sleep, watch TV, go to school etc)
adults can also control the speed at which children ‘grow up’
what are some examples of control over children’s bodies?
adults may control how their children sit, walk, run, what they wear, their hairstyles, piercings etc
they are washed, fed, dressed, kissed, hugged, picked up, and maybe disciplined by smacking
adults restrict ways in which children may tough their own bodies (nose picking, sucking thumbs and playing with their genitals) which contrasts to sexual freedoms enjoyed by other children in non industrial cultures
what ware some examples of control over children’s access to resources?
labour laws and compulsory schooling
state pays child benefits to parent not child
pocket money given to children but may be limited in what they are allowed to buy
what does Gittens argue about age patriarchy?
she uses the terms ‘age patriarchy’ to describe inequalities between adults and children
Gittens argues patriarchy literally means ‘rule by the father’ and points out the term ‘family’ referred to the power of male head over all other members
what do Hockey and James argue about age patriarchy?
they describe one strategy as ‘acting up’ - acting like adults by doing things that children are not supposed to do (swearing, smoking, drinking etc) and ‘acting down’ - behaving in ways expected of younger years which is a popular strategy for resisting adult control
they conclude that modern childhood is a status from which most children want to escape
what do critics say about age patriarchy?
although children remain under adult supervision, they are not as powerless as others claim
what is the idea of the ‘new sociology of childhood’?
this approach doesn’t see children as adults in the making but seed children as active agents who play a major part in creating their own childhoods
what does Smart note about the ‘new sociology of childhood’?
this approach aims to include their views and experiences of children themselves while they are living through childhood
