Childhood

Question 1

how does Pilcher define childhood

Answer 1

‘separateness’- clear distinct life stage which occupies a separate status from adults

Question 2

how might other people describe childhood in relation to Pilcher

Answer 2

the idea that childhood is a ‘golden age ‘ of happiness and innocence

Question 3

how does Wagg describe childhood

Answer 3

childhood is socially constructed. There is no single universal childhood. it differs between societies, times and places

Question 4

what does Punch state about cross- cultural differences in Childhood

Answer 4

children as young as 5 in rural areas take work responsibilities

Question 5

what did Firth argue about cross-cultural differences in childhood

Answer 5

firth argues less value is placed in other cultures on children showing obedience to adults due to the findings found in the western pacific

Question 6

what did Malinowski argue about cross- cultural differences in childhood

Answer 6

sexual behaviour is viewed differently in some cultures.

Question 7

what did Aries find about historical differences in childhood

Answer 7

• 10th-13th century ‘childhood’ did not exists
• childhood as a separate stage was short lived
• ‘mini-adults’- faced same punishment etc
• high death rates reflect child neglect, referred to baby as it

Question 8

what is the globalisation of western childhood

Answer 8

some sociologists argue that western notions of childhood are being globalised. Welfare agencies accused of imposing western childhood notions on the rest of the world. Reflecting what childhood notions should be, where this is the notion for their culture.

Question 9

what is the modern cult of childhood

Answer 9

according to Aries, elements of the modern notion of childhood gradually began to emerge from the 15th century onwards
*schools- church schools saw children as fragile creatures
* dress started to set children apart from adults
* handbooks on childbearing is widely available
ARIES: moved to a world that is obsessed with childhood

Question 10

what is the AO3 for the modern cult of childhood

Answer 10

childhood did not exist it was just a different notion

Question 11

what is the future of childhood

Answer 11

postman childhood is disappearing ‘ at a dazzling speed’ eg giving children the same rights, similar clothing

Question 12

what doe information hierarchy mean

Answer 12

children could not read, knowledge about sex, violence and death was ‘adult matter’. Tv broke down this boundary as children are able to access this information. innocence of children is replaced by knowledge and cynicism

Question 13

A03 for the future of childhood

Answer 13

+ valuable in showing how technology can influence childhood
-but ignores other factors that influence childhood development

Question 14

how is childhood described in post modernity

Answer 14

jenks- childhood is not disappearing but changing

post modern society is less stable eg divorce. Adults thus became protective over children

Question 15

what are A03 for post modernists views on childhood

Answer 15

over generalises that all children are in the same position

Question 16

name 3 reasons for the changes in the position of children

Answer 16

• law restricting child labour/ paid work= rather than economic assets, children became an economic liability, dependent on their parents financially
• laws and policies= minimum ages eg smoking, sex
• compulsory schooling=big effect on WC families, raising of school leaving age made children economically dependent on parents

Question 17

what is age patriarchy

Answer 17

Gittens (1998) uses the term ‘ age patriarchy’ to describe inequalities between adults and children. patriarchy means rule by father and as Gintis point out, the term ‘family ‘referred originally to the power of the male head over all other members of the household

Question 18

what is a critic of age patriarchy

Answer 18

child liberationists argue adults control over children’s lives is justified in order to keep them safe as children’s cannot make rational decisions

Question 19

what is Aries and Shorter march of progress view

Answer 19

they argue that todays children are more valued, better cared for, protected and educated, enjoy better health and have more rights than those of previous generations eg children today are protected from harm by laws against child abuse.

Question 20

what does child centeredness mean

Answer 20

march of progress sociologists argue that families have become child cantered. children now are the focal point of the family and are consulted on many decisions

Question 21

what does palmer argue is a Toxic childhood

Answer 21

she argues that rapid technological and cultural changes in the past 25 years have damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development These changes include junk food and computer games for long hours

Question 22

what are the inequalities among children

Answer 22

not all children share the same status or experiences for example children of different nationalities are likely to experience different childhoods. Bonke (1999) found that girls do more domestic labour especially in lone parent families.

Question 23

what are the inequalities between children and adults

Answer 23

firestone and halt argue that many of the things that march of progress writers see as care and protection is actually new forms of oppression and control

Question 24

what do critics say about the new sociology of childhood

Answer 24

these critics see the need to free children from adults control, and so, their view I described as ‘ child liberationalism’. Adult control takes a number of forms

Question 25

what is the new sociology of childhood

Answer 25

this approach doesn’t see children as adults in the making. Instead it sees children as active agents who play a major part in creating their own childhoods