childhood Flashcards
childhood
Childhood is constructed between time, places and cultures
Pilcher
separateness is most Important feature of modern childhood. Emphasized through laws of what children can’t do, differences in dreams products and services
Aries (1960) Historical Differences
Looked at painting:
Elements of modern childhood begun to emerge from the 13th century
Childhood didn’t exist in the middle ages
Children were treated as ‘mini adults’ Schools specialized in education for children rather than adults
Influenced by church, kids seen as ‘creatures of god’
Clothing less distinct between adults and children
Led to ‘cult of childhood’ where parents obsessed with their children
Shorter
Higher death rates encouraged indifference and neglect. Non uncommon to give new-borns name of recently dead children , refer to children as ‘it’ and forget how many kids they have
nationality childhood stat
90% of lowest weight babies born in third world countries
gender childhood Hillman
boys are more likely to be allowed cross road, use buses and go out in dark unaccompanied alone than girls
class childhood Howard
children in poor families more likely to die in infancy, be shorter, have long-term illness and be placed in lower sets in school
ethnicity childhood Bhatti
the idea of izzat (family honour) restricts girls behaviour more
ghittins childhood
age patriarchy
Inequalities between children and adults
Adult domination and child dependency
Asserts itself in violence against women and children
Leads to them acting up (smoking, drinking, swearing) or acting down (behaving younger/ baby talk)
criticism pollock
childhood did exist In the past, children was just a different notion
criticism of protection of children
some adults control over children’s lives is justified on grounds children can’t make rational decisions and are unable to safeguard their own interests.
Children not as powerless as liberationists make out (e.g. Children Act and UN convention)
Postman
argued that childhood is ‘disappearing at a dazzling speed’
Based on view that communications technology is the primary thing that shapes society
Children can now access the adult world