childhood Flashcards
sociologists argue that childhood is
socially constructed , means that the ideas we have about childhood are created by society rather than being determined by the biological age of a child
some aspects of childhood which are influenced by society include:
-the length of childhood + moment a child becomes an adult
-the status of children in society- their rights, responsibilities legal protections/restrictions
-general ideas we have about children
Cunningham (2006)
argues that the nineteenth century saw the social construction of childhood by adults.
according to cunningham Childhood was seen to have three major characteristics these include;
-It was the opposite of adulthood – children were seen to be in need of protection, to have the right not to work and to be dependent on adults.
-The world of the adult and the world of the child were to be kept separate – the home and the school were regarded as the ideal places for children and they were often banned from adult spaces such as workplaces.
-Children were seen to have the right to ‘happiness’.
benedict- children in non-industrial societies are treated differently:
- responsibility at an early age e.g Holmes’ study of a Samoan village found that if a child believed they could do a certain task, parents would not object
-less value on obedience towards adults
-sexual behaviour amongst children is viewed differently
pilcher,1955 childhood in the west
clearly defined as a separate section of life to adulthood
-childhood in the west is seen as an innocent and vulnerable needing lengthy period of nurturing and socialisation
differences in childhood over time-Hockey and James
argue that the western view of age is something which largely came about with the development of industrial society
-argues industrialisation to the exclusion of children,women + elderly from paid employment
in pre-industrial society
family considered unit of production- person’s age was not such a crucial determinant of their ability to work
-children are more likely to join in and help in productive activity
Jane Pilcher(1995)
highlighted the separateness of childhood from other life phrases, children have different rights + duties from adults protected by special laws
development of industrial society
what is the main difference In pre-industrial Britain, between childhood and adulthood?
they were not distinguished from one another:
-children had similar responsibilities to adults
-work began at an early stage
-there were no difference in rights
-high infant mortality rates= parenting attitudes were different (Shorter,1975)
the idea of childhood did not exist
(Phillippe Aries)- argues in the Middle Ages children not seen as essentially different from adults how can this be supported?
1- children were expected to work at a much earlier age
2- the law often made no distinction between children and adults
3- work of art fromm the period often just depict children as small adults
postman(1982)
-suggests the dividing line between childhood and adulthood is beginning to disappear
what does postman argue acts as a great divide
with the printed word, literacy became the great divide with adulthood being dependent on being literate
-adults could now control information passed on to children
what was used to distinguish being an adult and a child according to postman?
postman suggests being literate is how we divide a adult/child
jenks-postmodernity
-status of children may be changing due to emergence of family diversity
what does jenks argue the 20th century was focused on?
- ‘futurity’ of the child=they symbolised future potential and were the main concern of society
-adults sacrificed their needs to protect + nurture children
child centredness
child becomes centre of parents world especially through moments of hardship
adults relationship becoming more unstable
impacts child
palmer
focuses on toxic childhood - junk food, unhealthy behaviour lack of outside play, electronic babysitters
- looks at range of problems - e.g obesity, ADHD, bad behaviour, depression, autism, and sleep deprivation
-children experiences is being polluted
is childhood more positive today?
points for yes
-march of progress view
-family is more child-centred
-parents invest more financially
-longer compulsory education
march of progress view
(Aries and Shorter)
Children are more valued,
better protected and have greater
rights. Reasons include higher living
standards, smaller family sizes and
changes to policies/laws
the family is more child-centred
Children are a focal point of
families, at the centre of the decision
making, parents spend more time
with them, family life revolves
around children
criticism: Parents spend less quality time
with children (30 mins)
parents invest more financially
£230,000 until 21 due to longer
spent in education and ‘pester
power’ from children have greater
opportunities than before, parents
may sacrifice own needs
longer compulsory education
Protected from the adult world, better
opportunities
