Childhood

Question 1

Is childhood a social construct?

Answer 1

Sociologists see childhood as socially constructed so children’s positions differs between times, places and cultures

Question 2

What is the modern western notion of childhood?

Answer 2

• childhood is a special time of life, children need nurturing, socialising before they are ready for adult society and responsibility
• childhood is clear and distinct stage of life
• golden age of happiness, innocence, vulnerable, in need of protection, a life of play and leisure
• but this is not universal, other cultures do not see such a great difference between children and adults , childhood is socially constructed WAGG (1992.)

Question 3

What are the cross cultural differences in childhood

Answer 3

• Benedict (1934) children in non industrial societies
  1. take responsibility at an early age
  2. less value placed on children obeying adults, they adult has no right to expect obedience
  3. children’s sexual behaviour is often viewed differently

Question 4

what are the historical differences in childhood ?

Answer 4

• Aries (1960) in the middle ages childhood did not exist just mini adults
• shows how childhood is socially constructed how ideas have varied overtime e.g. changing in clothing

Question 5

Reasons for changes in the position of children

Answer 5

1. changes in child labour, economic assets become economic liability
2. compulsory schooling
3. lower infants mortality rates, parents invests more in fewer children they have all linked to industrialisation need for an educated workforce

Question 6

Future of childhood?

Answer 6

if childhood is a social construct then it will continue to change in the future

Question 7

Disappearance of childhood?

Answer 7

Postman (1994) childhood is disappearing, the lines between childhood and adulthood are fading e.g. children committing murder

Question 8

Information hierarchy

Answer 8

Postman 1994, printed words creates an info hierarchy a division between literate adults and literate children. This gives adults the power to withhold knowledge from children e.g. sex
- critiques argue that childhood is not disappearing and postman over emphasises the single cause of TV watershed

Question 9

Childhood in post modernity

Answer 9

• Jenks (2005) childhood is not disappearing but changing
• moving from modernity to post modernity adult relationships are more unstable (divorce.) relationship with children become more important, protecting children (security.)
• but critics claim this theory is a sweeping statement and any evidence comes from small unrepresentative studies.

Question 10

Has the position of children improved- the march of progress view?

Answer 10

children in western societies has been improving and its the best it has ever been e.g. education

Question 11

Has the position of children improved? child centred family

Answer 11

• children are the focal point of the family, receive far more education and financial investment
• society is also child centred not just the family

Question 12

What is a toxic childhood?

Answer 12

Palmer (2007,2010) rapid technology and cultural changes have dominated children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development

Question 13

Has the position of children improved- conflict view?

Answer 13

• conflict psychologists (Marxists and feminists), society is based on conflict between social groups such as social classes or gender where one group will be always dominant than others
• challenges march of progress view e.g. inequalities among children greater than ever

Question 14

Has the position of children improved- inequalities among children?

Answer 14

• children of different nationalities have different life chances
• Hillman (1993) gender differences, boys are likely to go out after dark accompanied
• Bonke (1999) girls do 5 times more housework than boys
• Bhath (1999) ethnic differences family honour restricts behaviour of Asian girls
• class inequalities children born into poorer families are more likely to fall behind in school

Question 15

Inequalities between children and adults

Answer 15

• firestone (1979) child labour laws do not benefit children but are a form of inequality as they make children dependent and powerless giving adults greater control

Question 16

neglect and abuse of children

Answer 16

• dark side of family life
• Childline receives 2000+ calls a year from children who say they are being sexually/physically abused.

Question 17

Controls over children’s space?

Answer 17

• movement is restricted e.g. shops display “no schoolchildren”
• 1971 86% of primary children travelled home from school alone by 2010 it was only 25%

Question 18

Controls over children’s time

Answer 18

• the adult decides if a child is old enough to do something, age is never an issue in samoan culture HOLMES

Question 19

Control over children’s bodies

Answer 19

• adults determine what happens to children’s bodies e.g. piercings and ways to control their body e.g. dont pick your nose

Question 20

controls over children’s access to resources

Answer 20

compulsory schooling means children only have access to low paid, part time jobs but this is not the case in developing countries.

Question 21

Age patriarchy

Answer 21

Gittens (19998)
- adult domination + child dependence
- child liberalists argue some form oof adult control is justified

Question 22

The “new sociology of childhood”

Answer 22

children are not simple “adults in the making” but active agents who play a major part in creating their own childhood

Question 23

what is the child’s point of view

Answer 23

research methods tend to be informal, unstructured interviews which empower children to express things in their own terms which enables sociologists to explore diverse, multiple childhoods.