childhood- social construct

Question 1

Pilcher

Answer 1

Takes a modern western notion of childhood

The main feature of childhood is separateness- it’s seen as a separate and distinct stage of life

Question 2

Benedict

Answer 2

Children in simpler and non-industrial societies are treated differently

• they take responsibility at an early age: Amish children start doing chores as soon as they physically can
• there’s less value on children’s obedience
• sexual relationships are normal for children: during the Victorian era, childhood prostitutes were common (Malinowski: Trobriand islands encourage and normalise children’s sexual relations)

Question 3

Aries - Middle Ages

Answer 3

Studied childhood in the Middle Ages from paintings done by Bruegel

Found that ‘childhood didn’t exist’

As soon as children were not physically dependent on their parents, they were seen as ‘mini-adults’

Question 4

Shorter

Answer 4

High infant morality rates encouraged parents indifference to their kids

Question 5

Aries - now

Answer 5

Said that now, we have a ‘cult of childhood’

-we have become obsessed with our children

-this change came about around the 13th century with things like schools and distinction between children’s and adults clothing

Question 6

Pollock - criticism

Answer 6

In the Middle Ages, childhood did exist, it just looked different to what we have now

Question 7

Reasons for change

Answer 7

1. Laws restricting child labour were introduced- instead of children helping the financials in their family, they became dependent until they could work
2. Compulsory schooling was introduced in 1880- therefore children could not work until they were out of school, increasing the time they are dependent
3. Decline in family size, and decrease in infant mortality