childhood - topic 2

Question 1

modern western notion of childhood - childhood as social construct

Answer 1

pilcher; most import feature of mod idea of childh is separateness, it is clear distinct life stg
emphasised thru laws differences in dress, laws, product and services
childh is golden age of happiness/innocence wh means childr vulnerable and need protection
lives revolve around family and education and excluded fr paid work
how diff cultures contrast childh differently

Question 2

cross cultural differences in childhood - childhood as social construct

Answer 2

benedict; arg childr in non industrial soc treated diff fr mod western:
1 take responsibility at early age; punch; bolivia study fou childr at 5 yrs expect to work
2 less val placed on childr showing obedience to adult authority; firth; among tikopia doings told by grown up is concession granted by child not right expect fr adult
3 childr sexual beh viewed diff; malinowski; fou in trobriand islanders adults tolerated childr sexual explorations
less dividing line b/w adults and childr so childh x fixed and differs fr culture to culture

Question 3

globalisation of western childhood - childhood as social construct

Answer 3

international/humanitarian welfare agencies have imposed western norms of childh
shou be innocent dependent and vulnerable based in nuclear family and school
ex. campaigns against child labour shows western childh spreading thru world

Question 4

historical differences in childhood- childhood as social construct

Answer 4

position childh changes over time
aries; arg in middle ages childh x exist
soon after weaning child entered soc on adult terms, starting work etc
no law to make distinction
aries used paintings, saw childr and adults playing together and could barely distinguish them

Question 5

modern cult of childhood - childhood as social construct

Answer 5

aries; childh gradually emerged fr 13th century onwards
1 schools; specialise in education of the young, reflected influe on church seeing childr as fragile, ‘childr of god’ in need of protection
2 growing distinction b/w childr/adult clothing
3 18th century; handbooks on child rearing widely available wh sign of growing child centredness
criticisms; linda pollock arg x correct to say middle ages had no childh but simply they had diff notion of childh fr todays