Childhood

Question 1

“Childhood is a social construct”

Answer 1

• Childhood is NOT universal; its different in other parts of the world. different societies, with different cultures and values view childhood in different ways

Question 2

Aries

Answer 2

Aries looking at the construction of childhood, through paintings
- In Medieval society, children took on the role of an adult as soon as they were physically able (children in medieval paintings look like mini adults)

Industrialisation
- With industrialisation, social attitudes have changed and people began to value children as needing special care and nurturing

Question 3

Functionalist view of society

Answer 3

Shorter: March of Progress
- Society has a functional need for better educated citizens and lower infant mortality rates
–> so, school leaving age has increased and child protection has improved
(This means that the current position of children is the result of positive progression from the past)

Question 4

“Child Centred Society”

Answer 4

Infant Mortality has dramatically decreased since the 20th century, and families are also getting smaller.
- This means that more attention is devoted to each child and more money is spent on their development both within the family and in wider society.

Advertisers recognise the financial power of children: “Pester Power”

Question 5

Child protection Laws

Answer 5

Children are subject to laws that restrict their sexual behaviour, their access to alcohol/ tobacco and the amount of paid work they can do.

The Children’s Act (1989) allows the state to take away children from their parents if they are judged to be incapable or unsuitable

Question 6

Childhood in different cultures

Answer 6

• Punch, found that children growing up in the countryside of Bolivia were given responsibilities and work to perform at the age of 5. This contrasts western attitudes towards child labour that have developed since industrialisation