families & households topic 1 Flashcards
social construct
society created this concept and it wouldn’t exist without society (childhood)
wagg- social construct
wagg says childhood is a social construct because it is different across cultures
UNICEF - cultural differences
UNICEF found that one in ten girls experience sexual violence and 95,000 children are murdered each year
pilcher - cultural differences
pilcher says childhood is the ‘golden age’ as they are innocent, protected, happy through leisure and play, dress differently, and sheltered from adult life
what does the NSPCC do?
NSPCC goes to under developed countries and spreads westernised ideas of childhood through globalisation
aries - historical differences
aries looked at historical paintings and found little difference between adults and children until the industrial era
what happened in the industrial era that could have influenced the change in childhood? (aries)
-rise of compulsory schooling
-child labour laws come into effect
-shift to a more child centred society in late 20th century as number of children in a family decreased
what do the march of progress say about the position of children improving or declining?
the march of progress believe the position of children in western societies has improved over the last centuries (including aries) saying they have better childcare, education, and rights
what does palmer say about the position of children improving or declining?
palmer argues the uk is experiencing a ‘toxic childhood’
what is a ‘toxic childhood’?
‘toxic childhood’ is children suffering due to junk food, video games, long working hours of parents, growing emphasis on testing in education
how can we see children suffering from a ‘toxic childhood’?
higher rates of:
-child obesity
-teen pregnancies
-self harm
-drug/alcohol abuse
-early sexual experiences
what does hillman say about gender inequalities between children?
hillman says boys are more likely to be allowed to use buses and go out after dark (due to the fear that young girls will be in danger)
what does brannen say about ethnic inequalities between children?
brannen says that asian parents are more likely than other parents to be strict towards daughters and enforce an ‘asian work ethic’
what social class inequalities may there be between children?
poor children are more likely to be culturally and materially deprived
what do MOP sociologists say about inequities between children and adults?
MOP theorists say adults have power over children to protect them
what do firestone and holt say about inequalities between children and adults?
firestone and holt argue adults power over children is to oppress and control them by making them reliant and dependent on adults, they believe in child liberationism
what is child liberationism?
setting children free from the power and control of adults
what does gittens say about inequalities between children and adults?
gittens says the inequality between adults and children is ‘age patriarchy’
what is ‘age patriarchy’?
when men typically have control over women and children
what does postman say about the future of childhood?
postman says childhood is disappearing as there is a disappearance of childhood games, clothing etc, which can be seen through children being given the same rights as adults and children committing adult crimes (eg. murder)
what does jenks say about the future of childhood?
jenks doesn’t believe childhood is disappearing and says children need to be protected by adults, therefore disagreeing with child liberationism
what does the ‘new sociology of childhood’ say about the future of childhood?
they see children as active agents who play a major role in creating their own experiences of childhood
what does smart say about ‘the new sociology of childhood’
smart says that this approach aims to include the views of children whilst they are living through childhood
how do adults exert control over children?
-control over space (where they can play)
-control over time (routines, bed time)
-control over bodies (piercings, clothes, hairstyles)
-control over resources (limited access to money, social media, video games)
