CHILDHOOD

Question 1

What is a social construct?

Answer 1

Behaviour that is thought of as natural but is in fact a products of cultural expectations and processes.

Question 2

What do some sociologists argue that the definition of childhood has changed through?

Answer 2

History

Question 3

Which sociologists argue that the definition of childhood has changed through history?

Answer 3

1) Phillipe Aries
2) Neil Postman
3) Jean pilcher

Question 4

Which sociologist said that the idea of childhood did not exists during the Middle Ages?

Answer 4

Phillipe Aries

Question 5

(Phillipe Aries) Explain how children were not seen as having a different nature from adults?

Answer 5

Soon after being weaned the child entered wider society on much the same terms as an adults: beginning work from an early age, often in the household of another family.
-Children were in effect “mini adults” with the same rights ,duties and skills as adults.

Question 6

What type of view did Phillipe Aries hold?

Answer 6

March of progress view meaning that the position of children in Western societies has been steadily improving and today is better than it has ever been.

Question 7

According to Aries, childhood changed through time for 4 key reasons. Which are?

Answer 7

1) 17th century (1600’s)-Separate clothing: While pre-17th century children wore clothes that were small-scale copies of those of their parents. In the 17th century children began to be dressed differently of those of their parents.
2) 18th century(1700’s)-Handbooks on child rearing were widely available which was a sign of the growing child-centredness of the family life, (atleast among the middle class). Thus this had led to an emergence of a whole philosophy around the idea of childhood.
3) 19th century(1809’s)- The 1880 Foster Education Act came into place. This reinforced schools to specialise purely in the education of the young as previously adults had also attended.
4) 20th century(1900’s)- Cult of childhood: whereby modern world is characterised by obsession with childhood then century of the child’.

Question 8

Give a criticism of Aries’s methodology

Answer 8

Arises methodology is not reliable as he used works of art from the period, in order for him to reinforce the dress sense during the medieval period.
-Thus, this methodology is invalid as the painting might have been a false interpretation of childhood in the post and it is just a snapshot of an event.

Question 9

What does Neil Postman believe about the concept of childhood?

Answer 9

He believes that the concept of childhood is linked to literacy and access to information.

Question 10

State and explain each stage of how literacy and access to information changed according to Neil Postman?

Answer 10

1) Middle Ages- During the Middle Ages most people could not read. There’s was not real distinction. Between adults and children.
2) 19th century- Compulsory education in the 19th century led to most literacy. This created a sharp division between adults who could read and children who couldn’t. Hence, the information hierarchy was born whereby adults could hide adult information inside written words that children could not access.

3) 20th century- Television blues the distinction between childhood and adulthood by destroying the information hierarchy. Unlike the printed word, TV does not equate special skills to access it and makes information available.
- The boundary between adults and children is broken down, adult authority finished and the ignorance and innocence of childhood is replaced by knowledge and cynicism.
- sexualised makeup
- children committing adult crimes
- social media today (snapchat) creates insecurities and influence on actions, leading to mental health issues.

Question 11

Give a criticism of Postman

Answer 11

1) over-emphasis on one factor of the TV as the sole reason for the disappearance of childhood.

Question 12

What did Jean Pilcher day childhood is?

Answer 12

Childhood is a separate age status .

-childhood is a clear and siting life stage, separate from adulthood.

Question 13

According to Pilcher what is the most important aspect of the modern notion of childhood ? And why?

Answer 13

It is the idea of separateness because if this childhood is now seen as a golden period of innocence e which must be protected.

Question 14

Give examples of differences between adult and child which Jean Pilcher uses

Answer 14

1) clothing
2) Toys
3) Books
4) games
5) food
6) Medical care
7) Entertainment
8) Work
9) Laws
10) Social Agencies

Question 15

Who are the sociologists who argue that the definition of childhood changes across cultures?

Answer 15

1) Ruth Benedict

2) Stephan Wagg

Question 16

What are the 3 ways in which children in the developing World may be seen as? According to Ruth Benedict

Answer 16

1) Firstly they are given more responsibilities- children in the developing world are often explored to work full time from an early age.
2) Their sexual behaviour may be seen differently- they may be seen as sexual beings at an earlier age than in the West; or their childish games and behaviours may not be seen as serious (e.g. child prostitution in Thailand)
3) Less value maybe placed in children obeying adult authority- The Tikopiapeople in Sotman Islands teach their children that obeying adults is optional. They see childhood as the time of ultimate freedom, and restrictions are only placed on children as they grow into adulthood.

Question 17

Even within the same culture the definition and experiences of childhood differs in 3 ways according to Ruth Benedict.

Answer 17

1) Gender differences - Boys have more freedom girls do more housework
2) Differences by ethnicity-Asian families are very strict with daughters
3) Poorer children are more likely to be ill, suffer behaviour disorders and do poorly in school.

Question 18

What is the quote which Stephen Wagg emphasis on?

Answer 18

“There is no universal childhood experienced by all, childhood is what people say it is”

Question 19

Why do Opie and Opie disagree with Postman?

Answer 19

They argue that there is evidence of a continued existence of a does the children’s culture of games and play.

Question 20

What sociologist disagrees with Postman in changes in the position of childhood but says that “childhood isn’t disappearing but it is changing”

Answer 20

Christopher Jenks -Post Modernist

Question 21

Who does Jenks agree with ?

Answer 21

With Aries that childhood was a creation of modern society, however he believes that in the posh modern world the rage of change has sped up and marital relationships have become more unstable.

Question 22

What does Christopher Jenks day parents draw their attention more too?

Answer 22

Parents draw their attention more on their children. They are even more fearful of their child’s security and even more preoccupied with potential threats to their society.
-children are greatly controlled by adults than ever before Jenks believes childhood is not disappointing ,he thinks it is still as separate age status apart from adulthood.

Question 23

Give a criticism of Jenks

Answer 23

His methodology is a small study in which it over generalises children. Assuming they are all the same.

Question 24

Give criticisms. If the g dories if the position of children

Answer 24

These reason for change in the position of children focus mainly on education and the impact of technology. However these changes took place within a context of wider social changes
-e.g. Laws and policies that apply specifically to children - Minimum ages for activities from sexy to smoking have reinforce the idea that children are different from adults and so different rules apply.

Question 25

What is toxic childhood ?

Answer 25

Sue Palmer argues how rapid technological developments in the pas at 25 years have damaged children and childhood for example junk food and computer games and mass media and exams.