Childhood

Question 1

What is relativity?

Answer 1

It refers to the notion that people’s experience of social life is not the same: it is not fixed or absolute. It often differs according to their social class, ethnicity, gender, global location etc…

Question 2

How is childhood a relative experience?

Answer 2

It’s a social construction. - Culturally Influenced

Question 3

One of the factors that alters childhood experiences is GENDER -
According to Oakley, how and why do girls experience childhood differently to boys?

Answer 3

He says there is a different taught, set of socialization during childhood based of femininity and masculinity.
It can differ from bedroom decoration to the toys they recieve and games they play or the chores asked to complete around the house.
With a feminine analysis this gendered socialisation is designed to teach them the feminine skills and attitudes to perform the adult role of homemaker and mother.

Question 4

One of the factors that alters childhood experiences is GENDER -
According to McRobbie, how might GIRLS experience childhood differently?

Answer 4

He suggests that parents see girls as needing greater protection from the outside world than boys do, thus meaning they are subject to stricter social controls from parents and consequently in adolescent spend more time within the household compared to boys.

Question 5

One of the factors that alters childhood experiences is GENDER -
According to McRobbie, how might BOYS experience childhood differently?

Answer 5

For boys, childhood tends to involve chapman calls - ‘toning down their emotionality and familial intimacy’.