Families and Households - Social construction of Childhood

Question 1

Bordieu - cultural capital

Answer 1

more experiences in childhood, greater exposure, the more intelligent they will be as more aspects of their brain is being used

Question 2

Jane Pilcher - separateness

Answer 2

childhood is seen as a distinct life stage.

Question 3

Wagg - social construction of childhood

Answer 3

• childhood is what what members of a particular society, at a particular time, in a particular place say it is.
• there is no single universal childhood experienced by all

Question 4

Philippe Aries

Answer 4

in middle ages, childhood did not exist. based on historical paintings showing children presented with adults wearing adult clothes

due to:
- low or no schooling
- started work at age 6
- low life expectancy -> adults not far from kids
- high infant mortality
- often sent away to work

Question 5

Edward Shorter

Answer 5

• parents forgot children’s names and how many they had
• babies named with same name as dead children
• referred to as ‘it’