Childhood as a social construct

Question 1

Modern western childhood: What did Pilcher say?

What did Wagg say?

Answer 1

• Pilcher states that theres clear difference between adults and children. Children have a differences in what they can/cant do, different clothes and products or service.
  Its seen as a special time of time. Children lack skills, knowledge, experiences in life hence why they are needed to be well socialised before adulthood/responsibilities.
• alot of leisure, play, education and family time whilst exclusion from paid work.

Wagg, said this seperateness doesnt apply to all societies. Childhood is socially constructed so theres universal differences of the definition of childhood. Some cultures dont see a great difference between child and adult. Whereas in western cultures, theres more value in childhood.

Question 2

Cross - cultural differences.

Answer 2

• Benedic, argues that children of eastern cultures are different to western in 3 ways:
  -they take in responsibilities at a young age. Holmes ( a sociollgist) found in a study of samoan that ‘ to young’ isnt a reason for child to not take part in a certain tasks.
  -less value placed on child obedience to adult authotiry.
  -in eastern culture, sexual acts are seen as fine for children whereas in western cultures there are even laws to not allow them.

Question 3

Globalisation into western childhood

Answer 3

Western notion of childhood is globalised by welfare agencies who apply western ideas to childhood.

Question 4

Historical differences:

Answer 4

• back in old times, Aries, notes how there was baso no childhood and the choldren were mini adults and they would enter work have same needs, laws and punishment applied.
• high death rates neglect children or indifferenciate them e.g naming a baby after the dead baby and calling baby ‘it’

Question 5

The modern cult of childhood.