Childhood Flashcards
What is the western definition of childhood?
- A time of life which is distinguishable from adulthood.
- A time of physical and psychological immaturity - children are not competent to run their own lives.
What allows childhood to be distinguishable from adult?
- Laws
- Power and status - parental control over their children.
- Activities that are considered to be appropriate.
What are some of the reasons for the changes in the position of children?
Give at least three examples
1) Laws:
- Restrict child labour
- Exclude children from paid work
2) Introduction of compulsory schooling in 1880.
3) Child protection and welfare legislation.
4) Growth of the idea of children’s rights.
5) Declining family size and infant mortality rates.
6) Child development - subject of medical knowledge.
7) Laws and policies that apply specifically to children - minimum ages for smoking and sex for example.
What is the ‘march of progress’ view of childhood?
- Position of children in western societies has been improving and is better than its ever been.
Children nowadays are:
- More valued
- Better cared for
- More protected
- Better educated
- Children are protected from harm and exploitation due to laws.
- Professionals cater for the educational, medical and psychological needs of children.
- Better healthcare/ higher standards of living - babies have a better chance of survival.
How has the media influenced the position of children today?
Middle ages - everyone was illiterate - children were able to understand the same information as adults.
19th Century - knowledge in the form of written information - only accessible to adults. This gave adults power over society and left children dependent on them.
- Media/television - means that children are no longer ignorant - they are knowledgeable.
How are adult-child relationships changing?
- Parents put more emphasis on their relationship with their children.
- Less emphasis on parental relationships - high divorce rates - marriage less permanent.
