Childhood Flashcards
The nature of childhood, and changes in the status of children in the family and society
Many suggest that childhood is a social construction
meaning that the important characteristics of something (such as statistics, health, childhood old age or what is seen as deviant) are created and influenced by the attitudes, actions and interpretations of members of society, only existing because people define them as such
Evidence suggesting that childhood is a social construction rather than a product of biological immaturity
- the differing status, responsibilities and treatment of children in different contemporary cultures
- the way the view of the nature of children and childhood, and the status, responsibilities and treatment of children have changed through history, and continue to change today
- the differences between children’s status and responsibilities even in the same society
Evidence of cross-cultural differences in childhood
- International Labour Organisation suggests that 1 in 7 children is in child labour (28% in Sub-Saharan Africa)
- Child Soldiers International suggested that 27 countries used child soldiers 2004-7
- 2014 UNICEF report found 1 in 10 girls experience serious sexual violence
- Girls Not Brides - 1 in 5 girls married before 18 (2023)
Aries’ (1973) suggestions on the development of childhood
- in medieval times childhood was not a separate stage - seen as ‘little adults’
- until the mid 1800s child labour was common, children faced the same legal punishments as adults
- in the 1800s the father was the head of the family and children would see little of their parents and had much lower status in the family
- social construction of childhood is linked to industrialisation - restrictions on child labour began in 1800s and children began to be seen as needing protection, as well as the introduction of compulsory education in 1880, making children dependent on adults
Differences between childhoods in the same society
- UK gov - 30% of children live in poverty (2023)
- girls have different experiences from boys - Brannen (1996) and Bhatti (1999) found that Asian girls were far more restricted and controlled than their brothers
- Margo et al (2006) emphasised that richer parents can afford constructive organised or educational activities (sports clubs, music lessons etc) contributing to their child’s development
- many poor children are pushed to take jobs as soon as possible
Causes of child-centeredness in the family
- higher living standards
- welfare state support for children
- children’s legal rights
- Minister for Children and Children’s Commissioner
- paediatrics and emphasis on parenting skills
- early years education and compulsory schooling
- growing parental fears for child safety
- smaller families
- children’s consumer market
- shorter working week
Causes of child-centeredness in the family - shorter working week
in the 1800s people typically worked 70-80 hours a week but now full time work can be 35 hours or more, giving parents more time to spend with children
Causes of child-centeredness in the family - children’s rights
- social workers have the power to intervene om families to protect children (can remove them)
- United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child (1989) sets the international standard for protecting and promoting children’s rights
- Children Acts of 1989 and 2004 established children’s legal rights
- now a Minister for Children and a Children’s Commissioner to protect and promote their interests
Causes of child-centeredness in the family - paediatrics and emphasis on parenting skills
- paediatrics and medicine for children developed a lot in the 1900s
- range of research and books encouraging parenting skills to encourage full development with nurturing, protection and early education seen as important
Causes of child-centeredness in the family - children’s consumer market and ‘pester power’ (Margo)
- large businesses focus on the children consumer market eg toy companies, nike etc
- Margo suggests more children take greater control over family spending and 7-11 year olds are an increasingly lucrative target audience for advertisers eager to harness their ‘pester power’
Ways in which the position of childhood has improved
- improved status
- better diets
- medical care
- more rights
- more facilities geared towards their needs
- better protection and care
- better education
Ways in which the position of childhood has worsened
- legal controls over children
- unhappy children
- child abuse
- sibling abuse
Ways in which the position of childhood has worsened - legal controls over children
many laws restricting children’s behaviour (mostly out of health and safety or well-being controls) eg
- have to be 16 to marry
- have to be 17 to drive
- legal drinking age of 18
- voting at 18
- can’t work until 14
- age of consent at 16
- buying medicines, cigarettes, lottery, energy drinks etc
- films and games with age restrictions
Ways in which the position of childhood has worsened - unhappy children
- Womack (2011) - children in the UK among the unhappiest in the West
- UNICEF - UK children more prone to bad health, school failures, bad relationships with family and friends, drinking, deprivation etc
- NHS 2023 - 1 in 5 8-16 year olds had a mental disorder
- 30% of UK children live in poverty
- Margo - British children spend more time with peers and less with parents
- Rees (2011) research for Children’s Society - 9% of 14-16 year olds run away overnight at least once a year
- 2021 - 33,000 crimes were committed by minors (gov)
- 2022 - 450 children in custody (gov)
Ways in which the position of childhood has worsened - child abuse
- forms of abuse statistics CPP (Child Protection Plan) 2013: emotional (31%) , physical (12%), sexual (5%) and neglect (41%) - more than one was 11%
- NSPCC 2011 - 1 in 5 children severely maltreated during childhood
- NSPCC 2005 - 1/5 teenage girls hit by children
- gov 2023 - 50,000 children under a child protection plan
