childhood Flashcards
what does Jane Pilcher (1995) note is the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood?
separateness
childhood is a clear and distinct life stage
how is the separateness of childhood emphasised?
laws regulating what children are allowed, required or forbidden
dress, entertainment, goods and services
who notes that separateness is the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood?
Jane Pilcher
what is the ‘golden age’ of childhood?
happiness and innocence
- means children are seen as vulnerable and in need of protection from the dangers of the adult world
what spheres do children largely live in?
family and education
what does Stephen Wagg say?
childhood is socially constructed
there is no single universal childhood
what does Stephen Wagg’s view on childhood mean?
while all humans go through the same stages of physical development, different cultures construct or define this differently
what does Ruth Benedict argue?
children in simpler, non-industrial societies are generally treated differently from there modern western counter parts in three ways:
1.they take responsibility at an early age
2.less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
3.children’s sexual behaviour is often viewed differently
how do Punch and Holmes validate Benedict’s identification that some children
1. take responsibility at an early age?
Punch found that in Bolivia, once children are about 5, they are expected to take work responsibilities
Holmes found in a village ‘too young’ was never given as an excuse not to do something
what sociologists validate Benedict’s identification that some children
1. take responsibility at an early age?
Punch and Holmes
what sociologists validate Benedict’s identification that in some places
2.less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
Firth
how does Firth validate Benedict’s identification that some places
2.less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
among the Tikopia, doing as you are told is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child, not a right to be expected
complete the sentence:
Benedict also argues that in many non industrial cultures there is less of a…
dividing line between the behaviour expected of children and that expected of adults
explain the globalisation of western childhood
International humanitarian and welfare agencies have exported and imposed on the rest of the world, western norms of which childhood should be
Explain historical differences in childhood
The position of children differs overtime, as well as between societies
what does historian Aries argue?
in the middle ages ‘the idea of childhood did not exist’
- children were effectively mini adults
what does Aries use to reinforce his argument?
artwork
children were just painted on a smaller scale
describe the modern cult of childhood?
the world is now obsessed with childhood
what developments according to Aries culminate in the modern cult of childhood?
- schools came to specialise purely in the education of the young
- growing distinction of children and adult clothing
- handbooks on childbearing are widely available
how might sociologists criticise Aries?
In the Middle Ages society, simply had a different notion of childhood from today’s
why is Aries contribution valuable?
It shows that is childhood is socially constructed
what reasons are there for the changes in the position of children?
1. laws..
- laws restricting child labour and excluding children from paid work
- laws and policies that apply specifically to children (eg minimum ages)
what reasons are there for the changes in the position of children?
2. the introduction of..
compulsory schooling
what reasons are there for the changes in the position of children?
3. child..
protection and welfare legislation
what reasons are there for the changes in the position of children?
4. the growth of..
the idea of children’s rights
- eg UN convention on the the Rights of the Child
what reasons are there for the changes in the position of children?
5. declining..
family size and lower infant mortality
what has declining family size and lower infant mortality meant?
Encouraged parents, to make greater financial and emotional investment in the fewer children that they now have
what reasons are there for the changes in the position of children?
6. children’s..
childrens development became the subject of medical knowledge
what does Postman argue is the future of childhood?
‘disappearing at a dazzling speed’
what does Postman argue is the cause first of the emergence of childhood and now it’s disappearance?
The rise and fall of print culture and its replacement by television culture
Describe, Postman’s identification of the information hierarchy
Printed word created an information hierarchy with a sharp division between adults who can read and children, who cannot
What does television replace ignorance and innocence of childhood with?
Knowledge and cynicism
what sociologist evaluated Postman’s theory that childhood is disappearing?
Iona Opie
how does Iona Opie evaluate Postman’s theory that childhood is disappearing?
based on lifetime research into children’s unsupervised games, rhymes and songs she argues that there is strong evidence of continued existence separate culture over many years
what does Jenk’s believe about childhood in post modernity?
that childhood is changing rather that disappearing
describe Jenk’s view that childhood is changing rather that disappearing?
childhood continues to be a separate status
what change does Jenk’s argue childhood is going through as society moves from modernity, to post modernity?
in modern society adult relationships were more stable however in post modernity, they’re more unstable
children become more important as a source of adults identity and stability
evaluate Jenk’s arguments?
He makes sweeping statements that imply all children are in the same position
what is the march of progress view of childhood?
the position of childhood is improving and today is better than ever before
what does Mause say about how the position of children has improved?
the history of childhood is a nightmare from which we have only recently begun to awaken
describe the child centred family
higher living standards and small family sizes mean that parents can afford to provide for children’s needs properly
Explain the march of progress argument for the family, becoming child-centred
Children are no longer to be seen, and not Heard as they were in Victorian times. Instead, they are now the focal point of family.
How can the improving position of children be evaluated?
Toxic childhood
what is sociologist argued that children in the UK today are experiencing toxic childhood?
Sue Palmer
explain the concept of toxic childhood
Rapper, technological and cultural changes in the last 25 years have damaged children’s physical emotional an intellectual development
eg. junk food, computer games
Describe the concerns have been expressed about young peoples health and behaviour
UK youth have a above average rate in international league tables for obesity, self harm, drug and alcohol abuse
What does Lloyd De Mause say about the history of childhood?
‘the history of childhood is a nightmare from which we have only recently begun to awaken’
what is the difference between birth rates in the 1860s to more recent years (2014)?
- 1860s = 5.7 births per woman
- 2014 = 1.83 births per woman
Which sociologists are included in the conflict view of childhood?
marxists and feminists
Generally, how do conflict sociologists critisise the march of progress view of modern childhood?
MoP is based on a false and idealised image that ignores important inequalities
Conflict theorists criticise the MoP view on two grounds which are:
- there are inequalities among children - in terms of the opportunities and risks they face
- the inequalities between children and adults are greater than ever - children experience greater control, oppression and dependency - not care or protection
What % of the worlds low birth-weight babies are born in developing countries?
90%
describe current inequalities amongst children
- nationality
- gender
- ethnic
- class
What sociologists looked at gender differences among children?
Mayer Hillman (1993) and Jens Bonke (1999)
What did Mayer Hillman (1993) find about gendered differences among children?
boys are more likely to be allowed to cross or cycle on roads, use buses, and go out unaccompanied after dark
What did Jens Bonke (1999) find about gendered differences among children?
Girls do more domestic labour - especially in lone parent families where they do 5 times more housework than boys
Which sociologists investigated ethnic differences among children?
Julia Brannen (1994) and Ghazala Bhatti (1999)
What did Julia Brannen find about ethinic differences among children?
- study of 15-16 year olds
- found that Asian parents were more likely to be stricter on their daughters
What did Ghazala Bhatti (1999) find about ethinic differences among children?
izzat (family honour) could be a restriction, particularly for the behaviour of girls
What important class inequalities between children?
- poor mothers = more likely to have low birth-weight babies
- children of unskilled manual workers = 3 times more likely to suffer from hyperactivity than of professionals
- children born into poor families are more likely to die in infancy or childhood, to suffer longstanding illness, to be shorter in height, to fall behind in school, to be placed on the child protection register
Which sociologists investigate inequalities between chilren and adults?
Firestone (1979) and John Holt (1974)
What did Firestone (1979) and John Holt (1974) argue?
things Mop writers see as care and protection are infact just new forms of opression and control
What does Firestone argue about “protection” from paid work?
its not a benefit to children but infact a form of inequality
Why does Firestone argue that ‘protection’ from paid work is a form of inequality to children?
it is a way of forcibly segregating children, making them more dependant, powerless and subject to adult control
define ‘child liberationism’
the view taken by Firestone and Holt - the need to free children from adult control
what forms can adult control take?
- neglect and abuse
- control over childrens spaces
- control over childrens time
- control over childrens bodies
- control over childrens acess to resources
How many children were subject to child protection plans in 2013?
Adult control - neglect and abuse
43,000
How many calls do childline recieve a year from children claiming to be sexually or physically abused?
neglect and abuse
20,000
What do the statistics about neglect and abuse suggest about family life?
there is a ‘dark side’
what are some examples of control over childrens spaces
