Childhood Flashcards
What is a social construct
Created by society rather than simply bring a biological stage in a person’s life
Why do some argue that childhood is a social construct
because different societies and historical eras have different ideas about what it means to be a child, how children should be treated and what is expected of a child
What is the evidence against childhood being a social construct
Biology - childhood is made up of several stages of a person’s life through which the body goes through many physical changes each which bring the individual closer to adulthood
What is the evidence supporting childhood as a social construct
Cross cultural evidences - experience of childhood in different cultures around the world Historical changes Aries 'centuries of childhood' Century of the child Changes to the position of children
Cross cultural evidences - experience of childhood in different cultures around the world
Childhood is different in different societies therefore it is not a natural biological stage In life.
If it was natural all children of all cultures would have the same experiences of childhood, but they don’t.
- Childhood is shaped by the culture of a particular society
Historical changes
Experience of childhood in the UK has changed over the last 500 years
Childhood is a social construct because throughout history, children in the uK have experienced different treatments
Aries ‘centuries of childhood’
There was no concept of childhood in medieval Europe
- children were seen and treated as ‘little adults’ who took part in the same work and leisure activities as adults.
- Due to a high child mortality rate, children were seen as an economic asset (their wages where an important financial benefit to the family).
During the industrial revolution w/c children worked in factories, mines and mills.
Century of the child
Growing awareness of children rights. Children seen as an active family member and make more of a democratic contribution to the family
- young people form an iconic force in society through ‘pester power’
The ideas of childhood started to emerge at the end of the 19th century and it:
- was seen to oppose adulthood - laws introduced banning children from working. this gave them a separate legal status
- childhood became associated with happiness - since 1900 children became economically worthless but emotionally priceless (in need of love and attention)
Adult world and world of children are to be separate - children sent to school.
Changes to the position of children
Compulsory schooling & raising school leaving age
Child protection and welfare legislations e.g children act, 1989
US define children rights - education, healthcare, protection from abuse, right to make decisions in custody cases.
Positivist theory of childhood - Aries & shorter
March of progress view - over the last few centuries, children lives have been improving and are now better than ever
Today’s children are:
- more valued
- better cared for
- educated
- enjoy better health
- have rights
The family and society have become child-centred. Parents invest emotional work, time and money into their children.
Positivist theory of childhood - Butler et al
Children now have more rights - important change
Ian Butler - research
[group discussion + in-depth interviews]
children aged 8-11 years
Asked them about their role in family decisions.
Liberationalist view - Hillmann, Brannen, Woodroof & Howard
improved for some depending on gender, ethnicity and class
HILLMANN - boys have more freedom
(gender)
BRANNEN - asian parents tend to be particularly strict
(ethnicity)
WOODROOF (class) - w/c children are more likely to suffer from behavioural disorders
Therefore whether the position of children in society has improved or not depends on their class, gender + ethnicity
Liberationalist view - Gittens
Adults dominate children and children are forced to be dependent on adult.
Liberationalist view - child trafficking & child protection
Children in the UK today are at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse so their lives have not improved.
Liberationalist view - Firestone + holt
Children are unequal in relation to adults
- ‘protection’ from paid work makes children dependent on their parents so its not protection, it’s inequality
Children are controlled in a number of ways:
- Neglect and abuse - indicates to ‘dark side’ of family life in which children are victims
- Space - driven to school, not allowed in pubs or shops.
- Time - Bed time, TV time
- Bodies - adults control how children sit, walk, what they wear.
- Access to recourses - labour laws/ compulsory
