Childhood

Question 1

Aries

Answer 1

Suggests that the Western idea of childhood did not exist as recently as a hundred years ago, and said that in the past children were treated as “mini adults”. He supports the march of progress theory

Question 2

Postman

Answer 2

Information hierarchy: Says that the invention of the printing press introduced the “information hierarchy” where the adults had access to more information than the children (because they could read) and this created the concept of childhood. However, he says the information hierarchy has now collapsed, and that childhood is disappearing as a result.

Question 3

Ennew

Answer 3

Looked at childhood cross-culturally and discovered that the preoccupations of a culture radically change the way children view the world. In Jamaica, he discovered that the children were part of the workforce, and that the last priority for them was play, because of the way they view the world

Question 4

Jenks

Answer 4

Childhood is not disappearing but changing. Adults will still protect children in our culture

Question 5

Howard

Answer 5

Class affects childhood: Found that children born into poorer families were more likely to die young, fall behind in school, be susceptible to disease and being placed on the child protection register. He also found they had a higher infant mortality rate

Question 6

Hillman

Answer 6

Gender affects childhood: Highlighted the inequalities between boys and girls, showing that parents often gave their sons more freedom than their daughters

Question 7

Brannen

Answer 7

Ethnicity affects childhood: Asian parents are more likely to be strict with their daughters than their sons

Question 8

Pilcher

Answer 8

Childhood is a time of separateness and children deserve happiness

Question 9

Opies

Answer 9

Argues that childhood is a distinct culture with it’s own songs and games

Question 10

Gittens

Answer 10

The age patriarchy is where the adults are dominant and oppressive, keeping children subordinate and dependant

Question 11

Palmer

Answer 11

Toxic childhood: Rapid advances in technology and culture and being exposed to things such as junk food and inappropriate information means children’s development is harmed

Question 12

Hood-Williams

Answer 12

Parents control their children

Question 13

Smart

Answer 13

Children are not passive victims of socialisation but create their own childhood through experiences

Question 14

Firestone

Answer 14

Child labour bans are oppressive: Banning child labour is seen as being another way to keep children under control (control of finances) and increases dependence on parents