Childhood Flashcards
Summarise Aries Pre-Industrial ideas
- Idea of childhood didn’t exist – didn’t have different needs compared to adults
- Entered world on same terms as adult – work.
- ADULTS IN MINIATURE – same rights, duties and skills as adults.
- Children faced same punishment as adults.
What did Aries paintings show?
Children appeared without any kiddie characteristics - portrayed same as adults, just smaller scale.
Summarise Aries Post-Industrial ideas:
- Elements of childhood emerged
- Schools specialised in young – not adults.
- Children reflected as ‘fragile creatures of god’ in the church
- Distinction between clothing – only for U/C
- More handbooks on childbearing
- BECAME MORE CHILD-CENTRED
How does Pollock criticise Aries?
Said it was more accurate to say in Middle Ages, society had different notion of childhood from today.
What were Pilcher’s views on childhood?
It was seen as a clear, distinct life stage with a different status to adults.
Childhood is a GOLDEN AGE OF HAPPINESS AND INNOCENCE - need protecting from dangers of adult world
What did Pilcher say was the most important feature of childhood?
Separateness
What did Pilcher say childhood is not?
Not universal - some societies do not view childhood as separate from adulthood.
Summarise Wagg’s views on childhood:
- Childhood is socially constructed – no single childhood that’s experienced by all.
- All humans go through same stages of physical development, but cultures define childhood differently
- Western cultures = children are vulnerable and unable to fend for themselves.
Who said society is socially constructed?
Wagg
What did Benedict argue about childhood?
Children in simpler, non-industrial societies are treated differently to Western people.
Summarise Benedict’s 3 way’s children are treated differently:
- TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FROM EARLY AGE - Samoan village found “too young” was not an excuse to not do a task.
- LESS VALUE ON OBIDIENCE TO ADULT AUTHORITY - doing as you are told by an adult is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child, not a right to be expected by adult.
- KIDS SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR VIEWED DIFFERENTLY - adults took attitude of ‘tolerance and amused interest’ in children’s sexual explorations.
What did Benedict say about non-industrial cultures?
Less of a dividing line between behaviour expected of children and that expected of adults.
Illustrates childhood is not a fixed, universal thing, but is socially constructed so differs in all societies.
Describe reasons why a child’s position in society has changed?
Laws restricting child labour and exclusion from paid work - children became economic liability.
Introduction of compulsory education 1880 extended period of dependency.
Decrease in family size and lower infant mortality rates encouraged parents to make greater financial investments into kids.
What is the Children’s Act?
Defines parents as having responsibilities rather than rights in relation to their children.
How has the process of industrialisation led to a change in kids position?
Modern society needs an educated workforce, which requires compulsory schooling of the young.
Higher standards of living and better welfare provision leads to lower mortality rates.
What does Postman say about Childhood?
It is disappearing at a dazzling speed.
Trends such as giving kids same rights as adults, disappearance of traditional kids games, similarities in clothing and increase in adult crime e.g. murder.
