Families and Households - Childhood (topic 2) Flashcards
What is Aries argument in historical differences in childhood?
Aries argues that in the Middle Ages, ‘the idea of childhood does not exist’. Children were not seen as having a different nature or needs from adults - at least not once they had passed the stage of physical dependency during infancy.
In the Middle Ages, childhood as a separate age-stage was short. Soon after being weaned, the child entered wider society on much the same terms as an adult, beginning work from an early age, children were in effect ‘mini-adults’ with the same rights, duties and skills as adults. For example, the law often made no distinction between children and adults, and children often faced the same severe punishments as adults.
Aries uses works of art from the period. In these, children appear without any of the characteristics of childhood. The paintings show children and adults dressed in the same clothing and working and playing together.
What is Shorters argument for historical differences in childhood?
Parental attitudes were very different in the Middle Ages compared to modern times. Shorter argues that high death rates encourage indifference and neglect, especially towards infants. For example, it was not uncommon for parents to give a newborn baby the name of a recently dead sibling, to refer to the baby as it, or to forget how many children they had.
What is Aries argument in the modern cult of childhood?
According to Aries, elements of the modern notion of childhood began to emerge from the 13th century:
- Schools came to specialise purely in the education of the young. This reflected the influence of the church, which increasingly saw children as fragile ‘creatures of God’ in need of discipline and protection from worldly evils.
- There was a growing distinction between children’s and adults clothing. By the 17th century, an upper-class boy group, which set him apart from adults.
- By the 18th century, handbooks on childrearing were widely available - a sign of the growing child-centredness of of family life, at least among the middle classes.
He argues that we have moved from a world that did not see childhood as in any way special, and to a world that is obsessed with childhood.
Pollock criticises Aries on his arguments with the modern cult of childhood, explain her arguments.
Pollock argues that childhood, as we understand it today, is a recent social construct. In earlier times, children were treated as small adults expected to take on adult responsibilities. The modern cult of childhood idealises children as innocent and in need of protection, emerging alongside changes in education, family life, and children’s rights. Pollock suggests that this shift has led to a longer period of childhood, characterised of dependence, protection and specialised. However, Aries work is valuable because it shows that childhood is socially constructed, he demonstrates how ideas about children and their social status have varied over time.
What are some reason for changes in the position of children?
- Laws restricting child labour and excluding children from paid work. From being economic assets who could earn a wage, children became an economic liability, financially dependant on their parents.
- The introduction of compulsory schooling in 1880 had a similar effect, especially for the children of the poor. The raising of the school-leaving age has extended this period of dependency.
- Child protection and welfare legislation. The 1989 Children Act made the welfare of the child the fundamental principle underpinning the work of agencies such as social services.
- The growth of the idea of children’s rights.
- Declining family size and lower infant mortality rate have encouraged parents to make a greater financial and emotional investment in the fewer children that they now have.
- Laws and policies that apply specifically to children such as minimum age for a wide range of activities, from sex to smoking.
What is Postman’s view on the disappearance of childhood?
Postman argues that childhood emerged as a separate status along with mass literacy, from the 19th century on. This is because the printed word creates an information hierarchy: a sharp division between adults, who can read, and children, who cannot.
This gave adults the power to keep knowledge about sex, money, violence, illness, death and other adult matters a secret from children. These things became mysteries to them, and childhood came to be associated with innocence and ignorance.
However, television blurs the distinction between childhood and adulthood by destroying the information hierarchy. Unlike the printed word, TV does not require special skills to access it and it makes information available to adults and children alike. The boundary between adult and child is broken down, adult authority diminishes and the ignorance and innocence of childhood is replaced by knowledge.
What is Opies argument on the disappearance of childhood - evaluation?
Opine argues that childhood is gradually disappearing as a distinct phase of life. This is due to the increasing influence of commercialisation, media and technology which expose children to adult themes and behaviours at an earlier age. Opie highlights how the boundaries between childhood and adulthood are becoming blurred, with children engaging in adult activities and losing their unquie cultural practices. She critiques the nostalgic view of childhood often overlooks its historical complexities.
What is Jenks argument on childhood in postmodernity?
Jenks agrees with Aries that childhood was a creation of modern society. For Jenks modern society was concerned with futurity and childhood was seen as a preparation for the individual to become a productive adult in the future. To achieve this, the vulnerable, undeveloped child needed to be nurtured protected and controlled, especially by the child-centred family and by the education system, which imposed discipline and conformity on children.
Jenks argues, childhood is once again undergoing change in society moves from modernity to postmodernity. In modern society adults relationships were more stable, but in postmodern society the pace of change speeds up and relationships become more unstable. For example, divorce becomes more common and because of that it can generate feelings of insecurity. This leads to the relationships between adults and children become more important creating more security and stability. Children become more weary and see their parents as their last refuge from constant uncertainty. As a result, adults become more fearful for their child’s security and the become more preoccupied with protecting them from any dangers. There is now greater surveillance and regulation of children’s lives and postmodern society understand their innocence. For this reason, Jenks does not agree with Postman’s view on the disappearance of childhood, it is only changing.
Evaluation on Jenks argument?
- There is some evidence that parents see their relationship with their children as more important and that they show a lot of concern about the risks they will face. However, the evidence comes from very small and unrepresentative studies.
- Jenks is guilty of over-generalising. Despite the greater diversity of amity and childhood patterns found today (such as lone-parents families, stepfamilies) he makes rather sweeping statements that imply that all children are in the same position.
What is the march of progress’ view?
The march of progress view argues that, over the past few centuries, the position of children in western societies has been steadily improving and today is better than it has been. Writers such as Aries and Shorter hold a march of progress view. They argue that today’s children are more valued, better cared for, protected and educated, enjoy better health and have more rights than those of previous generations.
For example, children today are protected from harm and exploitation by laws against child abuse and child labour, while an array of professional and specialised cater for their education, psychological and medical needs, government put a lot of money into the education system and on top of that as for the better health care and higher standards of living also mean that babies have a much better chance of survival now than a century ago.
What is Palmers arguments on toxic childhood?
She argues that rapid technological and cultural changes in the past 25 years have damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development. These changes range from junk food, computer games, and intensive marketing to children, to the long hours worked by parents and the growing emphasis on testing in education.
Concerns have also been expressed about young people’s health and behaviour. For example, UK youth have above average rates in international league tables for obesity, self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, early sexual experience and teenage pregnancies.
What are criticism of the march of progress view?
- There are inequalities among children in terms of the opportunities and risks they face : many today remain unprotected and badly cared for.
- The inequalities between children and adults are greater than ever : children today experience greater control, oppression and dependency, not greater care and protection.
What are some examples of adults controlling children?
. Neglect and abuse - In 2020, 50,000 children were subjected to child protection plans due to significant harm, often from their parents. Childline receives over 20,000 calls annually from children reporting abuse, highlighting the dark side of family life.
. Controls over childrens space - Industrial societies like Britain regulate children’s movements with signs indicating no schoolchildren and increased surveillance. Fear of roads safety have led to more children being driven to school, with only 12% travelled unaccompanied by 2013. This contrasts with the independence of many children in developing countries, where they can roam freely within villages and outside.
. Controls over children’s time - Modern society’s adult control children’s daily routines and growth rate, defining their age and maturity. However research reveals that in Samoans, too young is never used as a reason for not allowing a child to undertake a task.
. Controls over children’s bodies - Adults significantly control children’s bodies, including clothing hairstyle and sexual freedoms. While children’s bodies are allowed to be touched in socially acceptable ways, adults restrict their own body touch, such as not picking their nose or playing with their genitals, contrasting with non-industrial cultures like the Trobriand Islands.
. Industrial societies often leave children economically dependant on adults due to limited, opportunities for earning money, compulsory schooling and state-funded child benefits. This contrasts with the economic role of children in developing societies and European societies, where they can start working from a young age.
What is Hockey and James’ argument on age patriarchy?
Hockey and James describe one strategy as acting up - acting like adults by doing things that children are not supposed to do, such as swearing, smoking, drinking alcohol, joy riding and under age sexual activity. Similarly, children may exaggerate their age. Acting down - behaving in ways expected of younger children - is also a popular strategy for resisting adult control (e.g. by reverting to baby talk or insisting on being carried). Hockey and James conclude that modern childhood is a status from which most children want to escape.
What are some criticism of age patriarchy?
- Critics of the child liberationists view argue that some adults control over children’s lives is justified on the grounds that children cannot make rational decisions and so are unable to safeguard their interests themselves.
- Critics also argue that although children remain under adult supervision, they are not as powerless as the child liberationists claim.
