childhood Flashcards
what is the modern western notion of childhood
childhood is a special time in life, which is physically and mentally different from adulthood as children are lacking in skills, knowledge and experience. Children need a nurturing period of socialisation before adult responsibility.
Pilcher
The most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness between the statuses of children and adults in society. This is emphasised by laws, clothing, services, entertainment, and food.
the effects of childhood being a ‘golden age’ of innocence and happiness
children are seen as vulnerable and in need of protection from dangers of the adult world. children mainly experience primary socialisation through leisure and play, excluding paid work
Wagg
Western notion of childhood is not found in all societies, and is socially constructed as childhood should be distinguished from ‘biological immaturity’.
Benedict
argues children in simpler, non-industrial societies are generally treated differently from their modern Western counterparts by:
- taking responsibility at an early age
- less value placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
- children’s sexual behaviour viewed differently
Taking responsibility at a young age across the world
Punch- children aged 5 in Bolivia expected to do tasks taken on without hesitation
Holmes- children being ‘too young’ is never an excuse
Less value places on children’s obedience to adults
Firth- in Tikopia, children not expected to listen to adult commands as viewed as a concession instead of a right
Sexual behaviour of children seen differently
Malinowski- found among the Trobriand islanders of the South West pacific, adults took an attitude of ‘tolerance and amused interest’ towards children’s sexual explorations
how are western notions of childhood being globalised?
- colonisation
- media normalisation
- welfare agencies
- campaigns about child labour
Aires- middle ages
in the Middle Ages, childhood did not exist, as children did not have separate status and were expected to go to work.
evidence- contemporary letters, diaries and documents showing the work children did, and the way they were perceived
Aires criticisms
he took mainly personal cases, instead of making a generalisation of the generation.
evidence shows Medieval laws which prohibited marriage under the age of 12
Shorter
high death rates encourages the indifference and neglect of children
Aires- 19th century onwards
evidence of the modern notion of childhood emerging:
- separation of children from the work of adults beginning 16th century as upper-classes sent their children to school for education
- industrial revolution lead to child labour
- 19th century factory act banned employment of children in mines and factories
- end of 19th century state education became compulsory in Europe
the ‘modern cult of childhood’
change from a society who did not acknowledge childhood to a world with child-centredness
why was the 20th century the ‘century of the child’
children had separate legal status, accompanied by the development of adults specialising in children
what reasons led to the emergence of modern childhood?
- laws restricting child labour and children in work
- introduction on compulsory schooling (1880)
- child protection and welfare legislation
- growth of idea of children’s rights
- declining family size, lower infant mortality rates
- children’s development becoming subject of medical knowledge
- industrialisation
laws restricting child labour and excluding children from paid work
children went from being economic assets to liabilities as they were financially dependent on parents
introduction of compulsory schooling (1880)
learning and socialisation to become obedient workers as more jobs required literacy and numeracy skills
child protection and welfare legislation
1889 prevention of cruelty to children act, 1989 children act, making the welfare of the child the major principle of agencies such as social services until 18
growth of idea of children’s rights
UN Convention (1945) of the rights of the child outlining the basic rights and entitlements of each child
declining family size, lower infant mortality rates
encouraging parents to make greater financial and emotional investment in the fewer children they had. 19th century average children - 5.8, 21st century average children- 1.8
children’s development as the subject of medical knowledge
more knowledge about children’s development, learn more in the first 2 years of life than rest of life. More understanding of different types of learning at different ages. Scientific evidence children need to be treated differently to adults
industrialiation
jobs less appropriate for children, as work was more intellectual, so workers needed to be educated and have basic literacy and numeracy skills to work there
Postman- 19th century (info hierarchy)
argues childhood emerged as a separate status from the 19th century as the printed world became a hierarchy of information, as a division of adults who could read, and children who couldn’t. Childhood associated with innocence and ignorance as they could not access information about sex, violence and death
Postman- 21st century (info hierarchy)
childhood disappearing at a dazzling speed due to the rise of TV and fall of print- less secrets kept from children as TV presents unlimited access to the adult world, destroying the information hierarchy
What is social blurring
there is little distinction between adults- children’s games disappearing as they speak, dress, and act like adults. Adult authority is diminished and the ignorance/ innocence of children is replaces by knowledge and cynicism
