childhood Flashcards
How do sociologists see childhood as? What does this mean?
Socially constructed - something created and defined by society.
How is childhood generally accepted in our society?
A special time of life and that children are different from adults.
Why is it believed that children need a lengthy, protected period of nurturing and socialization?
They lack knowledge, skills and experience. They are considered as mentally and physically immature and not yet competent to run their own lives.
What does Pilcher note as the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood? How is this emphasised?
Separateness - this is emphasised by laws, services, products, toys, entertainment.
What does the “golden age” refer to?
Childhood consisting of happiness and innocence. Innocence means children are seen as vulnerable and in need of protections from the “adult world”, so they must be quarantined (separated from it).
What does Wagg’s suggest about childhood?
While children go through the same stages of physical development, different cultures construct or define this process differently.
How are children defined as in Western cultures today? In contrast to other cultures who…?
Vulnerable and unable to fend for themselves. …do not necessarily see such a difference between children and adults.
What does Ruth Benedict argue about childhood?
Children in simpler, non-industrial societies are generally treated differently from their modern western counterparts.
What 3 ways are children treated differently from Western counterparts?
- They take responsibility at an early age
- Less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
- Children’s sexual behaviour is often viewed differently
What does Benedict argue about childhood?
There’s much less of a dividing line between behaviour expected of children and that expected from adults.
What does Benedict’s argument illustrate?
Childhood is not a fixed thing found universally in the same form, but is socially constructed and so differs from culture to culture.
What does Aries argue about the Middle Ages (10th-13th century) ? Children were not seen as having?
The idea of childhood does not exist. Children were not seen as having different needs from adults, once they had passed infancy.
How are western notions (ideas) of childhood being globalised?
Campaigns against child labour reflect western views about childhood. Such activity by children may be the norm for the culture and an important preparation for adult life. Campaigns have little impact on the developing countries.
How were children viewed in the Middle Ages? When did they begin work? The law…? E.g?
Mini-adults - they began work from an early age. The law made no distinction between children and adults, e.g. facing the same punishments.
What does Shorter argue about childhood in the Middle Ages?
High death rates encouraged indifference and neglect, especially towards infants.
What is socialization?
Process in which an individual internalizes society’s norms and values - learnt to conform.
Give an example of primary and secondary socialization.
Primary - family
Secondary - school
What is a norm?
Socially accepted behavior.
