Families: 5. Social Construction of Childhood

Question 1

What is a social construct?

Answer 1

A behaviour or practice produced by a society. Gender, age and childhood are examples of social constructs.

Question 2

Beliefs of Philippe Aries (?) on the notion of childhood

Answer 2

• Childhood as we know it did not exist until the Medieval Period (500 AD- 1500 AD)
• Children were an economic asset, not a symbol of love (high death rate)
• Prior to that, humans took on adult roles as soon as physically able; they became ‘little adults’.
• Concluded that ‘the cult of the child’ emerged with industrialisation.

Question 3

What is generally accepted by most sociologists about the construct of childhood over time?

Answer 3

• It has accelerated in our modern age. More now protect and nurture children more intensely than ever.
• Age restrictions separate adults from children
• Children are over pampered and mollycoddled in today’s society

Question 4

Chapmans (?) view on childhood

Answer 4

(2004)
It wasn’t until the 19th century that childhood became socially constructed as a significant transition in life that required nurturing, supervision and discipline. Children are now a significant cost to parents.

Question 5

What did Anthropologist Ruth Benedict argue about childhood?

Answer 5

Children in simpler, non industrial societies are generally treated quite differently from their Western counterparts.

Question 6

Three main differences in global experience of childhood

Answer 6

Benedict (2004)

1. They take responsibility at an early age: In Bolivia, children take work responsibilities from 5 years old.
2. Less value placed on children being obedient: Among the Tikopia in the West Pacific, children were not expected to obey their parents
3. Children’s sexual behaviours viewed differently: Cambodian Love Huts.

Question 7

Social Class differences in childhood in the UK

Answer 7

• Children who live in poverty are likely to have a poor diet, poor housing and various health conditions. Also higher incidents of neglect and abuse of children from lower income families.
• Womack (2007): Childhood is only really ‘toxic’ for poor children.
• Worth noting that children of the rich are privately educated in boarding schools sotherfore have a very different experience of childhood, which is not always happy.

Question 8

Ethnicity differences in childhood in the UK

Answer 8

• Black or mixed-race children are more likely to be in care than white or Asian children.
• Some minority-ethnic groups are more likely to be low-income so both factors influence childhood experience.
• Asian parents are often stricter with girls than boys, as found by Julia Brannen (1994)

Question 9

Gender differences in childhood in the UK

Answer 9

• Parents are often stricter with girls than boys, or at least more controlling. This affects freedom outside of the home.
• Boys and girls develop separate subcultures as they have very different experiences; boys being out on the town and girls being at home. This was called a ‘bedroom culture’.
• Bonke (1999): More expectations on girls to help with housework.

Question 10

Conventional Theoretical approach to Childhood

Answer 10

• Functionalist & New Right
• Highlight role of the parent and the importance of primary socialisation
• Critical of non-traditional family types
• Many are critical of our liberal, hyper-sexualised, social media age.

Question 11

Social Action Theory approach to Childhood

Answer 11

• Criticise the conventional approach
• Focus on how children see and interpret the world around them
• Each child’s experience is unique. No child is an empty vessel.
• Argues that socialisation is a two-way process in which the child actually contributes.