Childhood as a Social Construct Flashcards
How does what childhood is seen as vary?
- Between cultures e.g. varies between less and more economically developed countries
- Within societies (classes) children from rich families experience childhood differently from poor ones
- Historically (generations) children used to work from a young age
Outline the modern western notion of childhood
Children are seen as physically and psychologically immature and not competent to run their lives. There’s a belief that they need a period of nurturing and socialisation before they’re ready for adult society
What does Pilcher argue in terms of the modern idea?
Pilcher notes an important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Childhood is a distinct life stage and children occupy a separate status from adults.
How is the idea of separateness emphasised in modern society?
- Laws regulating what children are allowed, required or forbidden to do
- The way they dress
- Products and services for children e.g. toys, food, books
- Access to content
What is the ‘golden age’ of childhood and how does it effect children?
- Related to the separateness and is the idea that childhood is a ‘golden age’ of happiness and innocence
- This innocence makes them vulnerable and in need of protection from the adult world. So, they live in the sphere of the family and education, where adults provide and protect them from the outside.
What does Wagg argue about the separateness-age status?
- The separate-age status isn’t found in all societies.
- Wagg suggests ‘childhood is socially constructed.’ Though all humans go through the same stages of physical development, different cultures construct this process differently.
- Western cultures define children as vulnerable. While others don’t see such a great difference between children.
What does Benedict argue about cross-cultural differences in childhood?
- Benedict argues children in non-industrial societies are treated differently in 3 ways:
- Responsibility at an early age, less value on children showing obedience to adults and children’s sexual behaviour is viewed differently
- So, there’s less of a line between the behaviour expected of children and adults. Showing how childhood is socially constructed and differs from culture to culture
Describe a study that supports that children in non-industrial societies take responsibility at an early age
Punch found children in rural Bolivia were expected to work in the home and community once they were 5. Tasks were taken on without hesitation
Describe how in non-industrial societies less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
- Firth found, among a tribe, a child obeying an adult isn’t a right to be expected by the adult.
- Children were treated equally and weren’t expected to show obedience towards adults
Describe the globalisation of western childhood
- Some argue that welfare agencies have imposed western norms of childhood on the rest of the world
- e.g. Campaigns against child labour reflect western views on childhood but this may be the norm for the culture and important preparation for adulthood.
Outline historical differences in childhood
The position of children differs over time. Many sociologists and historians argue childhood as it is today is a recent ‘invention’
Outline Aries’ argument about childhood in the middle ages
Aries argues that in the Middle ages, ‘the idea of childhood did not exist’. Children weren’t seen as having a different ‘nature’ or needs from adults, once they passed the physical dependency stage in infancy
How were children treated in the Middle Ages?
- After weaning, they entered society on the same terms as adult and began work. Children were ‘mini-adults’ with the same skills, rights and duties.
- e.g. the law made no distinction between children and adults, children faced the same severe punishment as adults
What did Aries use as evidence for his argument?
Works of art from the period, where children appear without any of the characteristics of childhood. The paintings show children and adults dressed the same and working and playing together
What modern elements does Aries argue emerged from the 13c onwards?
- Schools only educate the young, reflecting the influence of the Church who see children as ‘creatures of God’ who need protection from worldly evils
- Distinction between children and adult clothing. In the 17c, an upper class boy had an outfit setting him apart from adults
- In the 18c, handbooks on childrearing were available, suggesting a sign of child-centredness of family life, at least among the middle classes
What was is the modern cult of childhood?
- Aries argued these developments are the modern ‘cult of childhood’.
- We have moved from a world that didn’t see childhood as special to a modern society that’s obsessed with childhood and describes the 20c as the ‘century of the child’
Give evaluation for historical differences in childhood
- Pollock argues it’s more correct to say that in Middle Ages, there was a different notion of childhood rather than saying it did not exist at all.
- However Aries’ work is valuable as it shows childhood is socially constructed as ideas on childhood have varied over time
Outline the modern changes in the positions of the children
- Laws now restrict child labour
- There’s now a declining family size and lower infant mortality rate
- There’s laws that apply specifically to children
Describe laws restricting child labour as a reason for changes in the position of children
From being economic assets who could earn a wage, children became an economic liability, financially dependent on their parents
Describe declining family size and lower infant mortality rates as a reason for changes in the position of children
These declines have encouraged parents to make a greater financial and emotional investment in the fewer children that they now have
Describe laws and polices that apply specially to children as a reason for changes in the position of children
e.g. minimum ages for activities, sex and drinking, reinforce the idea that children are different from adults and so different rules must be applied to their behaviour
Link industrialisation to the reason for changes in the position of children
- Most sociologists agree that industrialisation underlies the modern changes. As society now needs an educated workforce which requires schooling.
- Higher standards of living and welfare, that the industry makes possible, leads to lower infant mortality rates.
