Families: Childhood

Question 1

define social construction

Answer 1

• not naturally occuring
  
  • created by society and gets its meaning from culture and society itself
  • different over time and between societies

Question 2

changes across cultures

Answer 2

• Benedict: in non- industrial cultures there is less of a distinction between adult and child behaviour and expectations. children are treated very badly e.g.
  
  • Bolivia: from the age of 5, children work beside adults
  • Black Foot Indians: beat boys to make them strong

Question 3

Laws

Answer 3

• 1980: compulsory schooling
  
  • recent changes: school compulsory until 18
  • 1989: prevention of cruelty to children Act
  • 1989: Children Act: child welfare is a fundamental principle underpinning the work of agencies eg social services

Question 4

Laws: evaluation

Answer 4

+ growth in childrens rights: parents now have responsiblities rather than rights towards their children
- Hillman: gender inequality - boys have more freedom
- Brannen (1994) Asian parents are more strict towards girls.

Question 5

Conflict view

Answer 5

Marxist and feminists argue the position of children has not improved
- gender, ethnicity, and class all impact a childs’ experience
- child labour laws force children to be more dependant on adults more than ever
- adults have control over children ( space, time, resources, bodies and access). this causes neglect and abuse.

Question 6

toxic childhood

Answer 6

Palmer: technological and cultural changes have damaged childrens PIES
- obesity
- working parents
- video parents
- SATs

Question 7

is childhood disappearing?

Answer 7

YES
- Postman: same rights as adults
- ‘mini me’ clothing
- children commit adult crimes as a result of TV and social blurring
NO
- Opie: seperate childrens’ culture

Question 8

why and when did the modern idea of childhood develop?

Answer 8

• social attitudes towards children changed mid 19th century
• campaigners were concerned about juvenile deliquency, beggars, and prostitution. children then went to school
• industrialisation bought a shift from agriculture to manufactoring
• an educated workforce was needed to run/work in factories
• higher standard of lliviing led to improved mortality rate

Question 9

changes over time

Answer 9

• Aires: childhood didnt exist in the middle ages
• Shorter: high death rate meant that parents often treated their children with indifference and neglect

Question 10

Pester Power theory

Answer 10

advertisers target children in order to nag/pester their parents to buy thr latest products eg christmas adverts

Question 11

Pester Power evaluation

Answer 11

Marxists would argue this is good as it keeps society functioning.

Question 12

Postman theory

Answer 12

1982
fall in print media and growth in TV means there are no secrets kept from children
eg, shift in watershed, 24 hr news

Question 13

Postman evaluation

Answer 13

+ clear growth in the accessibility of technology
+ easier to stumble across adult material
- children are still protected: parental guidance ratings, watershed

Question 14

Palmer theory

Answer 14

2007
adults are benefitting from living in a wealthier society
technology is harming: used as an alternative to parenting

Question 15

Palmer evaluation

Answer 15

+ children ages 7-11 are worth £20 million - evidence of techonology
- demands of society mean parents are working more hours and in order to manage this they are in need of technologye

Question 16

Evans and Chandler theory

Answer 16

2006
material posessions are seen as a sign of love and good parenting

Question 17

Evans and Chandler evaluation

Answer 17

+ Children are a unit of consumption - marxism, pester power.

Question 18

Opie theory

Answer 18

Argues opposite to Postman - still a distinct childrens culture seperate from adult world e.g. childrens tv channels, play their own games

Question 19

Opie evaluation

Answer 19

+ marketing towards children e.g. over 1100 soft play centres in England
- ‘mini me’ clothing - ‘encouraging children to grow up faster

Question 20

Phillips theory

Answer 20

1997
- parenting in the UK has been broken down and the innocence of childhood has been undermined
- child rights: parents unable to discipline children due to criticism. e.g. ban on smacking in Scotland
- media and peers are more influential than parents.

Question 21

Phillips evaluation

Answer 21

+ vast amount of media aimed at children e.g. magazines
- parents still have authority over children and sanctions are put into plasce to encourage this.

Question 22

Shorter theory

Answer 22

Parental attitudes in the Middle Ages were different: high infant mortality rate encouraged neglect (calling child ‘it’ or reusing names)

Question 23

Shorter evaluation

Answer 23

+ supports Aires view that childhood is a new invention
- retrospective study: we weren’t here in the Middle Ages so conclusions came from content analysis.

Question 24

March of progress view

Answer 24

belief that the position of children has improved
- children under 13 cannot work
- only work full time after minimum school leaving age
- Young people in England must stay in education until 18
- Infant mortality rate 4/1000
- average number of children: 1.9
- child protection/ safeguarding laws
- Childrens act 2004 Every Child matters