Childhood Flashcards
Some sociologists including Aries, argue that childhood is a ——-?
Social construction.
Aries claims that in the past, childhood ——.
Did not exist.
Aries states that children use to be no different than adults in the past. Give three pieces of evidence that support this?
- Children were expected to work at an early age to bring in income.
- The law did not divide adults and children.
- Art work from this time period shown that children appeared the same as adults just smaller - same clothes etc.
What does Pilcher criticise Aries view of being?
Value laden.
Aries lets his own values determine his research. Some children were cared for in the past.
Aries was criticised for arguing there was no concept of childhood in the medieval times….
It is argued by others it is better to say ideas on childhood were different then not existing at all.
Aries was criticised for generalising about modern childhood on the basis of data largely confined to…
French aristocratic families.
What is the March of Progress view on childhood?
It is getting better and steadily improving.
The March of Progress view believe childhood has —-?
changed over tine.
What does Shorter say about childhood? (functionalist)
there are different attitudes towards children than there were in the past
According to Shorter, families and societies have became more –? (functionalist)
child-centred.
Shorter (functionalist) makes the march of progress argument that society has a functional need for better-educated citizens and lower infant mortality rates.
This results in what?
School leaving ages have gone up and child protection has improved.
That means that the current position of children is the result of positive progression from the past.
Why is todays society more child-centred?
- more babies bow survive due to due improvements in sanitation and health care
- Children are entitled to education
- children are protected from harm
What does De mause say about childhood in modern society compared to childhood historically?
Levels of child abuse were significantly higher than they are in modern society (physical punishment and abandonment)
What is De mauses theory heavily influenced on?
psychoanalysis, suggesting that parental anxieties and unresolved childhood issues are passed down through generations, impacting how parents treat their children.
De Mause is a March of Progress Sociologist who sees childhood as –?
Significantly better than in the past regarding safety and treatment.
De mause argues childhood is better today due to –?
- Law improvement
- Education
-Child centred families - UN Rights of the child
- Protections and welfare services.
What do Marxist and Feminists criticise of The March of Progress view?
It is limited and too idealistic.
It fails to take account of the inequalities between adults and children.
What do the Conflict View say about The March of Progress view?
It is false because society is based on conflict and inequality.
Inequality between children - hierachy at home.
What does Postman argue has exposed children to the adult world?
Television and print media.
According to Postman, childhood is —?
disappearing ta a dazzling speed.
What does Postman say lack of supervision causes?
It exposes adulthood - through video games.
This is why children now can commit murder due to the information they can receive from the media which destroys their innocence.
According to Parsons, what does print culture create?
Information hierarchy - sharp division between adults who can read and children who can’t.
What does Opie say about childhood?
It is not disappearing but changing into a separate culture of childhood.
What does Opie mean when saying children still have a distinct media and culture?
Through kids toys, games and movies.
A criticism of Postman is that they over –?
over emphasis a single-cause (television and print media) of the expense of other factors that have influenced the development of childhood.
According to Sue Palmer, childhood is –?
Toxic.
Sue Palmer argues that childhood is now an —?
Electronic village.
Palmers “toxic childhood” perspective is one of the main criticism of the —?
March of progress view.
An example of toxic childhood is - The decline of outdoor play. This leads to…
Obesity.
An example of toxic childhood is - the commercialisation of childhood. This leads to..
linked to children being exploited by advertisers.
An example of toxic childhood is - the “schoolification” of childhood. This leads to…
A reduction of independence.
An example of toxic childhood is - the decline of listening, language and communication skills. This is because…
Of a shortened attention span.
According to Palmer, what do tests and examinations within education cause?
Stress and anxieties.
In regards to Toxic Childhood, what did Margo and Dixon find?
International league tables for drug/alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety, self harm - UK youth near top
Reveals modern notion of childhood of innocent stage under threat.
According to Donzelot, society is more child-focused. What did his study conclude?
This links to the March of Progress view.
Infant mortality has dramatically increased.
Families are getting smaller.
Which sociologist views the increased protection of children and their separation from adult life as oppressive? (age patriarchy)
Gittins.
Gittens argues that….?
There is an “age patriarchy” and adults maintain authority over children.
How does Gittens view adults maintaining control over children?
Through enforced dependency through “protection” from paid employment, legal controls and over what children can and can’t do.
What did Hockey and James identify in their study?
Childhood was a stage that most children wised to escape from which many resisted.
