Childhood

Question 1

What is a social consrtuction?

Answer 1

Something that is created and defined by society

Question 2

What does Pilcher argue about the modern notion of childhood?

Answer 2

-Childhood is seen as a distinct and seperate stage.
-Seperateness

Question 3

Give examples to support how childhood be seen as a separate stage?

Answer 3

-Child protection laws; what children can and cant do
-Differences in dress
-Childrens toys, books, products

Question 4

What is meant by the golden age of childhood?

Answer 4

Children seen as innocent and thus vulnerable, meaning they need protection
-Children thus kept in the family sphere

Question 5

What does Wagg suggest about the golden age/ seperate age status of childhood?

Answer 5

The seperatism of childhood in western societies is not universal

Question 6

How does Punch’s study support the cross cultural differences in childhood?

Answer 6

Bolivia, children take on work responsibility from 5 years

Question 7

How does Holmes study support the cross cultural differences in childhood?

Answer 7

Samoan village, no such thing as too young for work
-less value on obedience to adults; not a right but a choice
-sexual behaviour seen as amusing

Question 8

How has the notion of childhood from a western perspective been globalised?

Answer 8

Campaigns against child labour reflect western views of how childhood should be

Question 9

How does Aries support the idea of historical differences in childhood?

Answer 9

There was no childhood in middle ages.
-Children were ‘mini adults’, faced same punishments

Question 10

According to Shorter, how did the parental attitudes to children change from middle ages to now?

Answer 10

Higher death rates encouraged neglect, parents more likely to give child name of dead sibling

Question 11

Why jas the position of children changed?

Answer 11

-Child protection laws; childreen economic liability
-Compulsary schooling; extended dependency
-Declining family size, lower infant mortality

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Question 12

What does Postman argue about childhood?

Answer 12

-Childhood is dissapearing at a dazzling speed
-similarities in clothing, children commiting adult crimes e.g Jon Venabales

Question 13

How has the information heirarchy led to the dissapearance of childhood according to Postman?

Answer 13

television blurs distinction between childhood and adulthood by destroying the seperateness of knowledge between the two stages

Question 14

How can you critisice Postmans idea that childhood is dissapearing?

Answer 14

we are instead becoming more child-centered, continued seperation of childs culture

Question 15

What is jenks view of childhood?

Answer 15

In postmodern society, childhood is not dissapearing but changing due to societal changes e.g divorce
- familys rely on children for stability as those relationships are permenant
-thus childreb are watched more closely

Question 16

What is the march of progress view of childhood? Give examples

Answer 16

Children are more valued,protected and educated
e.g laws against child abuse/labour
-better healthcare decreasing infant mortality

Question 17

how have smaller family impacted childhood?

Answer 17

Led to child centeredness as more money can be allocated to the child

Question 18

What is Palmer’s view on childhood?

Answer 18

-Technical and cultural changes have damaged child development
-increase in Obesity, self harm, drug abuse

Question 19

According to conflict theorists, how can. gender inequalities affect the experience of childhood?

Answer 19

Boys have more freedom at younger age e.g go out dark unaccompanied
-Girls do more housweork

Question 20

According to conflict theorists, how can ethnic inequalities affect the experience of childhood?

Answer 20

Bhatti- asian families are more strict on children due to family honour

Question 21

According to conflict theorists, how can class inequalities affect the experience of childhood?

Answer 21

-poor= low birthweight babies= delayed development
-poor= more likely death, fall behind in schools

Question 22

In what ways are children controlled in society

Answer 22

-control over space e.g child/no child zones
-control over time; meals,school

Question 23

What is the age patriarchy? (Gittens)

Answer 23

Adults doiminate and control children by restricting freedom
-Children resist this freedom by acting up/acting down

Question 24

How can Child liberationists suchas Gittens be criticised

Answer 24

-Children need to be controlled due to immaturity

Question 25

What is the new sociology of childhood?

Answer 25

Children create their own childhoods
-Tipper; choosing own family
-Smart;children actively involved in divorce