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
