Childhood

Question 1

Pilcher - modern childhood

Answer 1

main feature is separateness, its a clear distinct life stage with different status to adults.

Question 2

Benedict- childhood in non industrial countries

Answer 2

1. Take responsibility at a young age, after 5.
2. Less value placed on children showing obedience to adult authority.
3. Children sexual behaviour viewed differently.

Question 3

Aries

Answer 3

In the Middle Ages childhood did not exist,

children were seen as an adult instantly. Laws made no distinction between adults and children.

Question 4

Shorter

Answer 4

high death rates encouraged indifference and neglect, especially infants.

Question 5

Aries - why we now have childhood

Answer 5

1. schools started to specialise in children education not adults
2. growing distinction between adults and children’s clothing
3. handbooks on how to rear children became widely available.

Question 6

Why is there childhood?

Answer 6

1. laws restricting child labour and excluding them from payed work
2. intro of compulsory schooling
3. lower infant mortality rates
4. better medical knowledge

-Industrialisation made these changes, higher standard of living lowers infant mortality, it also needs an educated workforce this looks kids to school.

Question 7

Postman - information hierarchy

Answer 7

When children couldn’t read adults were able to hide things like sex, drugs, violence death etc a secret. TV now means children and adult alike can find out these things, this has. blurred the lines between child and adult.

Question 8

Jenks

Answer 8

Higher divorce rate means relationships with their children become more important as a source of adult identity and stability. They are adults last certainty and this makes them even more protective over them.

Question 9

Palmer- toxic childhood

Answer 9

Rapid technological and cultural changes in the last 25 years have damaged children’s physical emotional and intellectual development. eg testing in education constantly, ink food and computer games.

Question 10

Firestone

Answer 10

what many march of progress viewers see as protection and care is really oppression and control.

Question 11

Cunningham - control over children’s space

Answer 11

the home habit of 8year olds (where they can travel alone) has shrunk to 1/9 of the size it was 25 years earlier.

Question 12

control over children

Answer 12

control over children’s:
time
bodies- what they wear how they work
resources- can’t get jobs

Question 13

Gittins - age patriarchy

Answer 13

Power over children, they are dependent on adults. Children try to break free by acting as adults- smoking, drinking and sexual activities. Childhood is a status most children want to break from.