Childhood as a social construction Flashcards
What is primary socialisation?
Early childhood years
Values from its primary relationships
Parents, family, siblings
What is secondary socialisation?
Takes place within a small group of people or communities that are part of society
Beyond the family, schools, public
What does Wagg say?
Childhood only exists because of the way society has created it
There is no factual age which childhood stops.
There is no single universal childhood.
Should be distinguished from biological immaturity.
What is the sensible analytical view of childhood?
Infants/toddlers
Dependance is not socially constructed
5-12 years
Social construction is more plausible
13+
Social construction make more sense
What does Pilcher say?
Childhood is a clear and distinct stage in life.
It is the ‘golden age’ of happiness and innocence.
What are the three specific areas that distinct childhood and adulthood according to Pilcher?
Spaces
Resources
Rules
Physical separateness - physical immaturity
Psychological separateness - brain development
What does Aries argue?
Historical relativity
What does Aries argue childhood was in the pre industrial era?
Childhood as we know it didn’t exist
Children were mini adults
Economic assets
No separate toys or games
What does Aries argue childhood was in the industrial era?
Economic assets
Start to work from around 7 years
Same legal punishments as adults
What does Aries argue childhood is in the modern era?
Special and unite time in life shaped by innocence and need to be protected.
Separate culture to adults
Dependancy on adults and family
What does Shorter argue that supports Aries argument?
Children in the 19th century treated with indifference due to high infant mortality rate
What is a weakness of Aries argument?
Methodological issues
Findings are class specific
Overstates his case
What is cultural relativity?
Experiences of childhood will differ between cultures and within cultures.
