Childhood - Historical Changes Flashcards
What didn’t exist according to Ariès in pre-industrial European society?
Childhood
What did Ariès conclude from his analysis of secondary data from pre-industrial European society?
Concluded that children were treated no differently from adults as they were made to work from age 7-8
What were children seen as in pre-industrial society?
Economic assets
What were 7-8 year olds seen as by the eyes of the law in pre-industrial society?
Criminally responsible
Why weren’t children treated with love and affection by their parents in pre-industrial society according to Ariès? (Two factors)
High level of IMR
Financial reasons
What process in industrial society influenced the social construction of childhood according to Ariès?
Industrialisation
By the 19th century, what had resulted in the emergence of childhood?
Laws and social changes
What laws were put in place to children by the 19th century?
Laws to ban children from working in factories and mines
What did the Elementary Education Act 1870 provide children with?
Education up to age 10
What did government laws do in industrial society to cut down on child prostitution?
Raised age of sexual consent to 16
Why did IMR decline in industrial society?
Improvements in health, sanitation and diet
How were children seen in industrial society due to changes in laws and social factors?
Seen as objects of love and devotion
Why did some w/c children ignore the laws that banned them from working in mines and factors in industrial society?
To provide for their families
What two dominant images of childhood emerged in the 19th century according to Rogers?
Innocent child
Sinful child
Innocent child
Something wholesome and precious about childhood so children should be prodcfed from adult world
Sinful child
Assumes children are selfish and uncontrollablen
What has British society become in modern society?
More child-centred
What does a more child-centred society mean for children?
Means welfare of children has become very important resulting in large amounts of time, effort and money going into them
What are children seen as in a child-centred society?
Naive, vulnerable and in need of protection
What is invested into children to prepare them for adulthood in modern society?
Leave amounts on money and time invested academically, socially and physically
What developed under industrialisation?
Formal schooling
Impact of decline in IMR on childhood
Parents having less children meaning more financial and emotional investment goes towards them
Why did advances in specialist knowledge about children change the position of children in the 19th and 20th centuries?
Because it meant that importance of early years developed
What laws changed the position of children in 19th and 20th centuries?
Laws that banned child labour
How did contraception change the position of children in 19th and 20th centuries?
Contraception meant that families could have fewer children, resulting in more time and care going into their children
Two acts that have given children greater protection?
Children Act
Child Support Act
Why is the distinction between adults and children disappearing according to Postman?
Because children in contemporary society are becoming more exposed to a range of experiences that they share with adults
What has parental authority been undermined by in contemporary society according to Cunningham?
Children having money
What has resulted in children being more up to data than their parents?
The rapid pact of technological and social change
What shows the sexualisation of childhood according to Margo?
1950s - average age of first sexual intercourse was 20 for men and 21 for women
1990s - average age was 16 for both
What does Palmer believe some children in the UK are facing today?
‘Toxic childhood’
Impact of rapid technological and cultural chances in past 25 years according to Palmer
Damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development
Examples of technological and cultural changes
Junk food
Computer games
Intensive marketing at children
Long hours worked by parents
Growing emphasis on testing children
What do UK youths have above averages rates in international League Tables in?
Obesity
Self harm
Drug/alcohol use
Violence
Early sexual experience
Teenage pregnancies
What positive view do some sociologists have about the development of childhood over time?
A ‘March of progress’ view
Why do ‘March of progress’ sociologists believe childhood has improved over time?
Children’s welfare has improved
IMR has declined
Smaller family sizes
Laws
What theorists p argue that the ‘March of progress’ view is idealised?
Conflict theorists (Feminists and Marxists)
