Childhood Topic 2 Flashcards
What was pilchers modern western notion of childhood?
Pilcher Argues the key feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness
Childhood is a separate distinct life stage and is a special innocent time of life
Children are seen as fundamentally different from adults and are physically immature and not competent to run their own lives
Cunningham argues children are seen as the opposite of adults with the right to happiness
These views show childhood is not fixed in the same form in all societies so therefore is not universal
What does Benedict argue about cross cultural differences in childhood?
Benedict argues children in non-industrial societies are treated different to their modern counterparts in 3 ways
- They have more responsibility at an early age, punchs 2001 study in Bolivia found children found children are expected to work in the home or community from 5years old
- Less value is placed on obedience and adult authority, firths 1970s study of tikopia found doing as your told is a concession to be granted not a right to be expected by the adult
- children’s sexual behaviour is viewed differently, malinowski in the trobriand island found adults took a ‘tolerant and amused’ intrest
This shows behaviour expected of children and that expected of adults are less clearly separated
What is Aries historical view of childhood?
Argues that in the Middle Ages the idea of childhood didn’t exist. Children weren’t seen as having a different ‘nature’ to adults
They started work at an early age and were classed as ‘mini adults’ with the same rights, duties and skills as adults
Shorter argues parental attitudes towards children were very different and high child death rates encouraged neglect ( children were often called ‘it’)
What is Aries modern notion of childhood?
It began in the 13th century where schools began to specialise in education only for the young
The church saw children as ‘fragile creatures of god’ that need discipline and protection from worldly evils
There’s a distinction between children and adults clothing which sets children apart from adults
Aries says 20th century was century of the child
Reasons for the changes in the position of childhood?
Compulsory schooling since 1880- has created a period of dependency and has separated children from the adult world of work
Child protection and welfare laws- such as 1889 prevention of cruelty to children act has made children’s welfare a main concern
The ideas of children’s rights see parents as having responsibilities towards their children rather than rights
Laws about social behaviour- for example minimum ages for things like sex,smoking. This reinforces the attitude that children are different from adults
What is the march of progress view of childhood?
Argue children are now better cared for for example their educational, psychological and medical needs
Most babies now survive, in 1900 infant mortality rate was 154 but now it’s 5
Better standards of living and smaller families mean parents can afford to provide for children
Children are protected from harms and exploitation by laws against child abuse and child labour
What is the conflict view?
Marxists and feminists argue that the ‘march of progress view’ is an over generalised and idealised image
It ignores two inequalities-
-inequalities among children in terms of opportunities and risks they face, many children today remain unprotected
-inequalities between children and adults, inequalities are greater than ever as children today experience more control, oppression and dependency not care and protection
What are the inequalities among children?
Third world countries have different chances in life than children in the west. In western societies there are-
Gender differences- girls are expected to do more housework
Ethnic differences- Asian parents are usually more strict especially on girls
Class differences- poor children are more likely to die in infancy
This ignores how adults may use their power to help benefit children for example passing laws against child abuse
What did gittens claim about age patriarchy?
Gittens claims there is patriarchy of adult domination that keeps children subordinate for example adults have control over children’s time ie bedtime, children’s space ie where they’re allowed to go and their bodies ie what they’re allowed to wear
Adults make children economically dependent by stopping them from working
Adult control can lead to physical,sexual or emotional abuse, over 30,000 children are on the child protection register
What did Hockney and James find in resistance?
Children may resist the restricted status of a child by acting older for example smoking and drinking
This shows childhood is a status most children want to escape
What does postman argue in the future of childhood?
Postman says childhood is disappearing where children are becoming more like adults, such as having similar rights and acting in a similar way, this is because television replaced print culture
Print culture- children lacked literacy skills needed to access information so adults could keep knowledge about adult matters secret from them such as sex
Television culture- tv culture makes information available to adults and children, so the boundary between adulthood and childhood is broken down so adult authority is weakened
What does opie argue about the future of childhood?
Opie says childhood isn’t disappearing and argues a separate children’s culture still exists ie jokes and games
Claims there is strong evidence of the continued existence of a separate childhood over the years
Others argue western norms of what childhood should be is a childhood based on a nuclear family and school and western childhood isn’t disappearing but is spreading
What does palmer argue about ‘toxic childhood’?
Palmer argues that rapid technological and cultural changes are damaging children’s development for example junk food and video games
Uk youth are either high up or at the top of international league tables for things such as obesity, selfharm? Drug and alcohol abuse
UNICEF 2007 ranked the UK 21st out of 25 for children’s well being
Not all children are equally effected for example those who are in higher social classes are less effected
