childhood

Question 1

what group of sociologists support the modern western notion of childhood being special and the golden age?

Answer 1

march of progress approach to childhood of functionalists

Question 2

briefly explain Benedicts view of there being cross-cultural differences in childhood (specificially non-western societies)

Answer 2

argues children are seen and treated differently across the world.
she argues in non-western societies:
- children take responsibility at an early age (work at home/in the community)
- less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
- childrens sexual behaviour is viewed differently in other cultures

Question 3

briefly explain Philip Aries social construction of childhood

Answer 3

Argues that what people mean by childhood and position children occupy in society is not fixed, but differs between times/places/people.

Question 4

why do some sociologists argue that western views of childhood have become globalised?

Answer 4

International humanitarian and welfare agencies (e.g.UNICEF) impose on the rest of the world western norms and values of what childhood should be (seperate lifestage based in nucleur family and education)

Question 5

what did Philippe Aires find as historical changes in childhood from paintings he analysed?

Answer 5

That childhood was not understood as a separate stage of life until the 15th century, and children were seen as little adults who shared the same traditions, clothes, and work. Concluded that “childhood” is a recent idea constructed by new laws, and that parenting in the Middle Ages was largely detached.

Question 6

what did Pilcher argue childhood is?

Answer 6

it is a clear and distinct life stage with a seperate status from adults

Question 7

1989 Children Act for England and Wales

Answer 7

established the legislative framework for the current child protection system in England and Wales, that the welfare of the child should be the court’s main consideration.
given 27 week limit to solve cases of custody and allowed children to give opinion in court

Question 8

2003 Every Child Matters

Answer 8

a response to the death of Victoria Climbié who was murdered by her aunt and her partner.

Its aim is that every child, whatever their background or circumstances, should:
-have the support needed to be healthy;
-stay safe;
-enjoy and achieve;
-make a positive contribution
-achieve economic well-being

Question 9

2010 Working Together to Safeguard Children

Answer 9

what local authorities and the courts should take action for to protect the welfare of children:
- protect children from maltreatment.
- prevent impairment of children’s health or development.
- ensure that children grow up in circumstances with consistent safe and effective care.

Question 10

2023 changes to the Working Together to Safeguard Children act

Answer 10

chnages to principles of working with parents and carers to centre the importance of building positive, trusting, and co-operative relationships to deliver
tailored support to families

Question 11

give the 4 main arguments that show childhood is improving from a consensus view

Answer 11

1. child centred society: children are now seen and heard becuse parents invest a great deal of time and money in their children’s welfare
2. 1989 childrens act
3. free healthcare: children recieve high quality healthcare through NHS, including free dentistry, eye care and prescriptions up to 18
4. safeguarding children: schoold have a legal responsibility to take child protection issues very seriously (e.g. sexual exploitation, forced marriage, trafficking)

Question 12

give the 4 main arguments that show childhood is deteriorating from a conflict view (feminists and marxists)

Answer 12

1. neglect & abuse: children suffer physical, sexual & emotional abuse. In 2024 over 49900 children were on UK children protection register
2. control over childs life: helicopter parents (tiger parents), control over access to resources (laws exclude children earning own money and child benefits go to parents), stranger danger (control over space)
3. Pester Power: marxists argue children are seen to be targets of markestisation and consumers that influence parents espending
4. age patriarchy: Gittins believes children are at the bottom of the household patriarchy and children are patrionised by adults

Question 13

briefly explain how compulsory education until 18 has changed the position of children to improve childhood
-give positive and negative impacts of the change

Answer 13

positives: better educated children, improved status of children by giving them a voice, children are protected and safeguarded in education, extends childhood

negatives: makes children dependent for longer (up to 18 and over if at uni)

Question 14

briefly explain how child protection and safeguarding laws have changed the position of children to improve childhood
-give positive and negative impacts of the change

Answer 14

positives: improved children welfare by being a fundamntal prinicple, gives children access to having a happier childhood by excluding them to the dark side of society.
negatives: children are highly regulated and controlled too much at times

Question 15

briefly explain how growth in the idea of children’s rights have changed the position of children to improve childhood
-give positives and negative impacts of the change

Answer 15

positives: United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child gives basic rights to children for healthcare & education, allowed children to feel seen & heard (e.g. NSPCC)
negatives: some children still regularly experience abuse against their rights and not all countries reinforce these rights, burden on tax payers as free healthcare and education has to be provided for longe (18yrs)

Question 16

briefly explain how improved medical knowledge has changed the position of children to improve childhood
-give positives and negative impacts of the change

Answer 16

positives: specialist care is provided to help children when unwell, improvements have allowed children to still attend school and carry on with life by having medications and vaccinations to do so
negatives: some children still cannot access these due to waitlists and parents not being able to find the time to take them to doctors

Question 17

briefly explain how children specific laws and policies have changed the position of children to improve childhood
-give positives and negative impacts of the change

Answer 17

positives: reinforced childrens seperate position to adults that gives them greater care, protects children from physical and mental harm (e.g. laws on smoking, sex, film raitings)
negatives: due to it being a social construct of age that increases the rebellion of children so many still smoke and see movies that they shouldn’t for their age

Question 18

briefly explain how declining family size & lower infant mortality rates have changed the position of children to improve childhood
-give positives and negative impacts of the change

Answer 18

positives: children now have more financially and emotionally invested parents, extends childhood as parents can afford to with less children.
negatives: some parents who are w/c still cannot afford these, loneliness of only child families as they are exposed to adult conversations they shouldn’t necessarily be

Question 19

briefly explain how laws restricting child labour/working hours have changed the position of children to improve childhood
-give positives and negative impacts of the change

Answer 19

positives: children are protected from being economic assets, children can focus on havign fun & their education as they don’t have to work
negatives: makes children more financially dependent on parents (e.g. pocket money), control over access to resources and child benefits go to parents, children are still exploited for working hours limit and their wage as many bosses don’t follow these rules

Question 20

briefly explain Postman’s theory of the disappearance of childhood in postmodern society

Answer 20

• In modern society ideas of sex, money, illness, and other adult matters were kept secret from children by their parents to keep their innocence. Children are now growing up faster due to earlier exposure to media, violent games & films that blur the distinction between childhood and adulthood that destroys traditional information hierarchy.
• Their innocence is being replaced by knowledge and cyncism, which is creating a mental health crisis because of their exposure to mh conditions.

Question 21

give the evaluation point of Ioana and Opie of Postman’s theory of thedisappearance of childhood in postmodern society

Answer 21

They both criticise Postman as they think childhood is not disappearing, as they found children can and do create their own independent culture throug social networking

Question 22

briefly explain Sue Palmer’s thery of toxic childhood

Answer 22

rapid technological and cultural changes have damaged childrens physical, emotional and intellectual development (e.g. junk food, stress of exams, media pressure to grow up faster, parents working longer hours).
leading to a rise in mental health issues, drug & alcohol abuse & teenage pregnancies.

Question 23

Victoria Climbie (2000)

Answer 23

tortured and murdered by her guardians and nobody spoke to her about the concerns they noticed (e.g. teachers).
Inquiry lead to Laming report that meant crimes against children are given same importance as adults

Question 24

Baby P (2007)

Answer 24

17 month old whose death was caused by child abuse, sufferd over 50 injuries by stepfather and negligent mother.
Triggered a surge in child protection referals and children being taken into care

Question 25

briefly explain Jenks (2005) ideas of childhood in postmodernity

Answer 25

he doesn’t believe childhood is disappearing, instead it is changing due to the movement from modernity.
he agrees with Aries that childhood is a social construction that prepares children to be ‘productive’ adults.
He argues in post modern society parents relationships are becoming more unstable, which means parents begin to focus on protecting their children as a source of stability if they were to go through a divorce and custody battle.

Question 26

briefly explain Smart’s personal life perspective of childhood

Answer 26

believes we need to study childhood from the views of the child in the present tense in their daily lives.
Her study of divorce found that children were actively invloved in trying to make the situation better for everyone, instead of people asking how the child felt about the divorce.