Childhood Flashcards
Childhood as a social construct
childhood is something created and defined by society
what people mean by childhood and the position that children occupy in society isn’t fixed but differs between different cultures
Golden age of happiness
golden age of happiness and innocence
innocence means children are viewed as vulnerable
Differences Over Time Aries
in the middle ages, the idea of childhood didnt exist
children weren’t seen as having a different nature or need from adults
they were ‘mini adults’ with the same rights, duties and skills
Class Differences Aries
WC children were expected to work and be economic assets
MC children were protected from this with boys being sent to school and girls being taught to be good wives and mothers
Pilcher
society has become more child-centred
Punch
children take responsibility at a young age
Turnbull-IK tribe
children expected to look after themselves from an early age of 3 onwards and adults had little responsibility after that time
children were thrown out of the home and expected to look after themselves
Globalisation of western childhood
childhood is a separate stage where children are viewed as dependent, vulnerable and should be protected from the adult work
this influences international aid agencies of what childhood should be
Reasons for changes in the position of childhood
changes in the law, decline in IMR and impact of education
Examples of legal changes
1870 Foster Education Act
1989 Children act
laws restricting child labour
Matrifocal families
many afro carribean girls may have adult responsibilities
Bhatti
ideas of family honour could be a restriction particularly on the behaviour of girls
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
1 in 6 children were living in persistent poverty
Examples of inequalities between children and adults
adults control over children can take the extreme of physical neglect or physical, sexual or emotional abuse
adults control children spaces where they can and can’t go
adults control children’s daily routines
adults exercise control over childrens bodies
Postman
childhood is disappearing
childhood is only possible if children can be separated and protected from the outside world
mass media and tv have brought the adult world into the lives of children
Palmer
changes in childhood are having a negative effect on the children
a decline in outdoor pay leads to less social skills and social anxiety
commercialisation of childhood is benefitting capitalism
increased testing is leading to stress and poor mental health
Lee
children have pester power
there is a mass childrens market that children influence
Mason and Tipper
children actively create their own definitions of who is family
fictive kin
Smart
in divorce, children are actively involved in trying to make the situation better for everyone
Jenks
childhood is preparation for the individual to become a productive adult in the future
