childhood Flashcards
How has childhood changed
over time?
Some sociologists argue that children now have a ‘toxic childhood’ – exposure to technology, social media, less stability in family life, less freedom to play, more testing in schools. (Palmer)
How has the position of children
changed in the family?
Family size is smaller and there is more of a focus on romantic love or the ‘pure relationship’ and so children are seen as products of a special relationship (Giddens).
Also because relationships are more likely to breakdown more emphasis is placed on the enduring parent-child relationship. (Jenks ).
What factors might affect how childhood is experienced by individuals?
Social class, ethnicity, gender all affect young people’s experiences in childhood.
How might recent events impact on cohort of children’s lives?
Covid has impacted young people’s education, mental health and economic situation.
What does it mean by childhood is socially constructed?
This is ideas about childhood, behaviour considered appropriate, the way children are treated, how long childhood lasts, is all determined by cultural trends and values.
What does Pilcher argue is the most distinctive feature of childhood?
- Separateness.
e.g laws regulating what children can and can’t do, differences in dress.
What is child-centred?
Family life etc revolves around the child, with their development and wellbeing seen as priority.
What are reasons for child-centredness?
- Increased standards of living.
- Failing birth rates = smaller families.
- Programmes telling us how to be good parents (e.g super nanny).
- Children are no longer an economic asset but an economic burden.
What are advantages of child centredness?
- Concentration of resources on smaller number of children in a family.
- Concerns about “development” and well being.
- Emphasis on education over employment.
- Protection from dangers of adult world.
Disadvantages of child-centredness.
- Paranoid parenting.
- Helicopter parenting.
- Children become overly protected from exposure to outside world.
- “golden child syndrome”.
Who are the theorists that agree that childhood is lengthening?
- Aries.
- Jenks.
- Tim Gill.
- Frank Furedi.
What are the views of Aries?
- Compared to historical context, childhood is a protected and privileged time and distinct life stage from adulthood.
- There are many laws and protections in place from children and they are economically dependent and in education for longer.
What are the views of Jenks?
- Relationships are more unstable, for example divorce is more common
- This generates feelings of insecurity and in this context relationships with their children become more important as a source of adults’ identity and stability.
- Relationships with their children have become adults last refuge from the constant uncertainty and as such jenks argues that childhood continues to be a separate status.
Views of Tim Gill
- Children are subject to greater control and adult supervision than ever before.
- This limits their ability to develop skills needed for growing up.
Views of Frank Furedi.
- Parents are increasingly paranoid and anxious about all aspects of raising their children.
- Paranoid parenting has restricted children’s freedom to play and their creativity.
What are some social policies to do with children?
- 1989- The Children Act- Welfare of child is fundament services such as social services.
- Laws protecting children e.g safeguarding.
- State funded childcare - government provide some free childcare for 2-4 years old.
Which theorists argue against child-centred society?
- Neil Postman (1994)
- Palmer (2015)
- Melanie Phillips
Views of Postman.
- Argues that young people become exposed to the adult world earlier.
- With television and new technologies children have access to adult media.
- Adult style dress and commercialisation of childhood.
- Sexualisation of children. “tartification”.
Views of Palmer.
- “Toxic childhood” argues that rapid technological and cultural changes in the past 25 years have damaged children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual development.
- Examples include junk food, computer games, long hours worked by parenting.
- Parents are “cash rich but time poor”.
- Children are indulging in adult leisure pursuits e.g alcohol, drugs, sex.
Views of Melanie Phillips.
- Parents and schools have lost their ability to discipline children affectively due to increased “rights” of children.
- The “loss” of discipline and the shift away from competition in schools produces adults who can’t cope with wider society.
