Childhood Flashcards
What did the postmodernist Jenks say about childhood?
Childhood is changing, not disappearing. Parents are preoccupied with safety which has led to more surveillance and regulations of children’s lives.
What did Palmer say about the ‘toxic childhood’?
Rapid technological change has damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development. This has led to junk food, computer games, etc.
What did Aries say about childhood?
Childhood did not exist until 300 years ago - children were treated as ‘mini-adults’ as shown in medieval paintings. The importance of the child reinforced the importance of the housewife.
What did Postman say about childhood?
Childhood is disappearing due to children having same rights as adults. They play unsupervised games, wear similar clothing and commit adult crimes.
How can the march of progress view be linked to childhood?
It is suggested that families are increasingly child-focused, with parents wanting a better life for their children than the life they experienced themselves.
How can childhood be seen as a social construct?
Childhood is not universal
eg. leaving age in UK changed from 12 to 18 in the last century
What is argued by child liberationists?
Gittens argues that there is an ‘age patriarchy’, achieved by forced dependency through protection from paid employment and legal controls over what children can and can’t do.
