childhood - socially constructed Flashcards
who argued that childhood is a social construct?
WAGG- argued that there is not one single universal experience of childhood it is socially constructed that could be based on many factors such as
- culture
- period of time
- social class
- gender etc
name some evidence that childhood is socially constructed?
punch - found that children in bolivia had to take on responsibilities from the age of five such as housework etc which differs from western views on childhood where this idea would be heavily criticized and be seen as neglectful and take a more child centred approach
why can different cultures in childhood suggest that childhood experiences are socially constructed?
different cultures highlight different childhood experiences because each culture have shared norms and values eg Japanese culture is much more strict and have more pressure on academic success whereas American culture does not stress this as much
why do gender differences in childhood mean show that childhood is a social construct?
gender differences in childhood reinforce the idea that childhood is a social construct for example McRobbie - found that parents are more strict on girls in their families than boys which can lead to differences in childhood experiences because boys possess my freedom and girls may not
- Gender socialization is another way childhood experiences are different eg girls may do better academically but possess low self-esteem whereas boys may go through a masciliny cris being surrounded by female teachers and not having a role model
which theorist can be used to describe childhood experiences being socially constructed through gender?
MCROBBIE - parents stricter on girls than boys which leads to differences in childhood experiences
what theorist can be used as evidence that not all childhood experiences are the same ?
PUNCH- reserch on bolivia
what are some HIstoric differences in childhood experiences
some historic differences are that there was little differentiation between adults and children pre industrialization period compared to now where there are laws and age limits in place to differentiate places in society for children and adults which was argued by AIRES
- compared to pre industrialization there has been a shift to a more CHILD CENTRED SOCIETY where children are put first and bonds are actually built because they love longer
- INFANT MORTALITY RATE increased means more time and more responsibility for that child
which theorist can be used to back up the idea that there are historical differences in childhood
AIRES - idea of min adults
what is a child centred socitey ?
child centered society refers to the protection and safety of children which is normalized as a western thing
what theorist has criticized AIRES
- WILLSON - critcised aires idea of min adult stating that it may not been the lack of awareness pre industrialisation parents passed it highlights that that was a different period of time which reinforces the idea of society being socially constructed
what are some ethical diffenrenes in childhood /
BHAM- found that asian families were much more strict on behaviour and seen as much more controlling than western British or American families particularly with females which may have lead them to have a more religious or protected childhood compared with a white family
- RACISM another ethical differences that can affect the experience of childhood ,
