Childhood Flashcards
What do sociologists argue childhood is?
Argue childhood is a social construction
What does childhood being a social construction mean?
Means childhood isn’t natural or biological stage of life but is shaped and defined by norms and values of a society at a particular time
Why is separateness the most important feature of childhood today?
Separateness - children are clearly different to adults and childhood is a different time of life to adulthood
When were childhood and adulthood separated in the UK?
Separated during nineteenth century
Laws were introduced to abolish child labour and in 1880, education became compulsory for all children up to age of 10
How did laws lead to childhood becoming separate from adulthood?
Separated the two because children were no longer working and instead were at school
Meant they couldn’t take on adult roles and they started to behave more as children
What is child labour?
The employment of children in an industry or business, especially when illegal or considered exploitative
How many children globally are estimated to be engaged in labour?
Global estimates based on data from UNICEF, the ILO and World Bank indicate that 168 million children age 5-17 are engaged in child labour
Why does child labour demonstrate childhood is a social construction?
It is the norm of some cultures that child labour exists
Suggests that the ‘normal’ childhood is based on current laws and what a particular society deem as appropriate for children to be partaking in
How might childhood differ between social class?
- 1 million children in poverty meaning they may not have same experiences as children who aren’t in poverty
e. g. school trips, music lessons which would limit potential
How might childhood differ between gender?
Girls tend to have more controlled childhood
Girls tend to experience closer levels of social control whereas boys generally have more freedom which could lead to missed opportunities
How might childhood differ between ethnic groups?
Asian girls tend to have more restricted childhood compared to boys
e.g. Bangladeshi girls often more strictly controlled compared to brothers
How do differences between social class, gender and ethnicity show childhood is a social construction?
Shows that there are norms around the gender, ethnicity and social class stereotypes of how to shape a child’s childhood potentially leading to the having less fulfilling childhood and reaching their full potential
What is a March of Progress view?
Takes a positive view of childhood in Britain today
Argues that children’s position and status has improved
Children are more protected and their lives are better than they were 200 years ago
Four examples of how childhood can be said to be improving in the UK
Restricted working hours for children aged 13-17, illegal to work under age 12
Compulsory education until 18
The Children’s Act (2004) - safeguarding a priority
Improving ‘the rights of children’
What is a criticism of the view that childhood has improved in the UK for all children?
Conflict theories take a negative view on childhood
Argue children remain exploited and controlled by adults despite laws etc.
How do children learn to value consumerism?
Through birthdays and Christmas etc. where parents ask them what they would like
Overtime children start to value consumerism and feel they need to have more consumer goods
What is pester power? How does this create false needs for children?
Pester power - businesses deliberately target children to make profit, companies advertise during children TV encouraging them they want a product
Children then pester parents to buy it for them
Marxist, Marcuse, argues these are ‘false needs’ and children don’t actually need consumer goods but will feel unhappy without them
Why do Marxists argue pester power benefits capitalism?
Through ‘pester power’ and ‘false needs’ children have become consumers for the RC which keeps the RC and capitalism going
Why do feminists argue girls are more closely controlled than boys?
Girls more closely controlled than boys because girls are more closely monitored e.g. strict curfews whereas boys tend to be given more freedom
May be due to gender stereotypes where girls seen as more delicate, vulnerable and in need of protection
How do girls being more controlled than boys provide evidence for patriarchy in society?
Reinforces the idea that women should be controlled by men and men should have all the freedom to make the choices they want whereas women must only abide by rules set out for them
What do child liberationists mean by age patriarchy?
Argue argue patriarchy is where children are controlled by adults
Why might age patriarchy maintain the power of adults over children?
It undermines children’s independence and makes Tham dependent on adults which keeps adults in power
What does Philips mean by a ‘flight from parenting’?
Where parents avoid taking responsibility for raising their own children
Why would ‘flight from parenting’ be a concern for the New Right?
Taking responsibility for raising children is one for the fundamental values of the traditional family
Especially for women whose expressive role is to raise their children
What is a toxic childhood?
Palmer argues toxic childhood is where the wealthy MC regularly use technology to keep their children quiet
Palmer claims technology deprives children from a ‘proper’ childhood with quality family time
Why might toxic childhood be negative for children?
Technology is making them self-obsessed and unhappy which is causing social and behavioural problems
What does Postman think has caused the disappearance of childhood?
Argues disappearance of childhood is caused by children no longer being sheltered from the adult world
He blames the internet and TV for exposing children to adult experiences
What is the legal age of criminal responsibility?
10 years old
What is the legal age to vote?
18 years old
What is the legal age to marry?
16 years old
What is the legal age to buy cigarettes?
18 years old
What is the purpose of the TV watershed?
Protecting children from harmful material on TV and radio is one of Ofcom’s most important duties
Why do policies on age restrictions support the view childhood is a social construction?
These policies determine at what age certain things are deemed appropriate
Suggests age and childhood is all based on current laws and policies and how childhood is viewed can easily change
How would policies on age restriction be viewed by March of Progress theorists?
Viewed in a positive way arguing that they are protecting children from the adult world making their lives better
How would policies on age restriction be viewed by conflict theorists?
May argue that although these policies are in place children may still be controlled by adults and exploited by them, taking no consideration into the fact these laws are in place to protect children
How would policies on age restriction be viewed by conventional theorists?
May argue although these laws are in place, children are no longer sheltered from the adult world and can still access things that aren’t appropriate for their age
