Childhood Flashcards
What do sociologists see childhood as?
Socially constructed
What does socially constructed mean?
Something created and defined by society
What do sociologists argue what they mean by childhood?
Positions that children occupy in society are not fixed but differ between time
The modern western notion of childhood
What are children regarded as?
Physically and psychologically immature and not yet competent to run their own lives
The modern western notion of childhood
What do children lack?
Skills, knowledge and experience which means that they need a lengthy, protected period of nurturing and socialisation
The modern western notion of childhood
Jane Pitcher (1995)
Most important idea of childhood is separateness - children in Western society occupy a separate status from adults
The modern western notion of childhood
In relation to separateness of children’s status, what is the name of the other idea?
Childhood as a golden age of happiness and innocence
The modern western notion of childhood
Why are children innocent within society?
They are seen as vulnerable and in need of protection from dangers of the adult world so they must be kept “quarantined”
The modern western notion of childhood
Where are children’s lives largely in the sphere of?
Family and education which protect children from the outside world
Cross - cultural differences in childhood
Ruth Benedict (1934)
Children in simpler, non-industrial societies are generally treated differently from their modern western counterparts
Cross - cultural differences in childhood
What 3 ways did Benedict argue that children in simpler societies are generally treated different from modern western societies?
Taking responsibility at a young age
Less value placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
Children’s sexual behaviour is often viewed differently
Cross - cultural differences in childhood
Samantha Punch (2001)
Studied children in rural Bolivia and found that once children were about 5 years old, they expected to take work responsibilities in the home and community
Cross - cultural differences in childhood
Lowell Holmes (1974)
Study of Samoan village found that “too young” was never given as a reason for not permitting a child to undertake a particular task
Cross - cultural differences in childhood
In a Samoan village, what tasks would anyone undertake, no matter age?
Handling dangerous tools
Carrying extremely heavy loads
Cross - cultural differences in childhood
Raymond Firth (1970)
Among the Tikopia of the western Pacific, doing as you are told by a grown up is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child, not a right to be expert ted by an adult
