family 3 - childhood Flashcards
(12 cards)
childhood as a social construct
how can childhood be seen as a social construct by historical differences?
pre industrial…
industrial…
1920s…
1. pre industrial society
-children were ‘mini adults’
-passed from infancy to adulthood at age 5
-working from age 5
-law treated children and adults the same, and children weren’t innocent and protected
2. industrial society
-industrialisation = children working and being exploited (poorer children)
-children were an economic asset
-no welfare state - children helped families and elderly
3. 1920s (last 100 years)
-schooling was compulsory 5-14
-after leaving school, children worked or looked after siblings
-toys and games were simple, and children played on the streets
-weren’t supervised
-childhood diseases eg mumps, scarlet fever
4. today
-childhood is a special time and children are fundamentally different from adults
-children are; imature, in need of protection, have rights, and need socialising effectively
-children are an economic burden
1. pre industrial society
-aries based research on paintings - lack validity - only rich had paintings and could be manipulated
childhood as a social construct?
how can childhood be seen as a social construct by cultural differences?
child l…
child s…
-child labour is common in bangladesh and india. over 200mil have to work instead of going to school
-in the uk, children are innocent and in need of protection. safeguarding laws
-child soldiers in africa, who are kidnapped by gangs. girl soldiers are often raped
-in the uk, childhood is seen as a special time, free from violence and right to play
childhood as a social construct
how can childhood be seen as a social construct by differences between children in the uk?
class, gender, ethnicity
class:
-4mil in poverty
-material deprivation eg. no new toys, days out etc
-m/c have positive experiences as they have economic capital
-austerity has widened the gap
gender:
-girls are subject to higher social control
-feminists say this is due to stereotypes
-radical feminists - stereotypes are harmful
ethnicity:
-brennan found asian parents are stricter
-asian girls are more restricted than asian boys
-racism can affect experiences of childhood
2. gender differences:
-liberal feminists argue some parents avoid gender stereotypes and focus on developing personal identities, rather than conforming to the gender binary
what are the four reasons for the development of modern childhood?
introduction of…
cap…
changes to…
smaller…
1. introduction of new laws
-factory acts were passed
-formal schooling in the 1870 forster act
2. capitalism
-false needs
-whole market for providing products for children
3. changes to the perception of children
-vulnerable and in need of protection
-safeguarding laws
4. smaller family sizes
-decline in family size and infant mortality rates = parents are closer to their children
has the experience of childhood improved?
have laws improved the experience of childhood?
YES:
-regulate what children can and cannot do eg. sex, education, social media, films
-march of progress sociologists = laws protect children from the adult world so they’re happy and carefree
NO:
-child liberationists = laws have worsened childhood and it’s a form of social control
-laws maintain age patriarchy to make children dependent on adults, and justify adult control
has the experience of childhood improved?
have safeguarding policies improved the experience of childhood?
YES:
-children act 2004 = duty on anyone working with children to promote their welfare
-in 2020, nspcc launched campaign ‘pants’ to keep children safe from sexual abuse
NO:
-1 in 5 children experience abuse or witness abuse at home by the age of 16
-rise in online child abuse
-one child in every primary school class has recieved a nude from an adult
-child liberationists = child abuse highlights the inequalities between children and adults
has the experience of childhood improved?
have children’s rights improved the experience of childhood?
YES:
-in 1989 the UNCRC introduced the right to play, adequate standard of living and freedom of expression
-parent-child relationships are more democratic
-march of progress view = in the past, children were seen and not heard
NO:
-4mil children live in poverty in the uk = breach of children’s right to adequate SoL
-marxists = social class inqualities means people have bad experiences and material deprication.
-austerity cuts and financial stress = poverty
-the good childhood report 2019 = financial tress in childhood is linked to lower wellbeing by age 14
has the experience of childhood improved?
has children’s products and services improved the experience of childhood?
YES:
-children have different needs and wants from adults eg. clothes, toys, books, tv and food
-march of progress = today, children are an economic burden. this indicates an improvement in childhood
NO:
-palmer argues children have a ‘toxic childhood’
-parents use tech and junk food to keep children quiet. this has damaged their development
-tech makes children slef obsessed and never satisfied.
-pester power is evil, turning children into little sales reps
-high rates of childhood obsesity
yes: marxists say this only benefits the ruling class
are families child centred?
how are families child centred?
1. laws - parents put their children first, sheltering them from the adult world
2. safeguarding policies - parents want to keep their children safe
3. children’s rights - child-parent relationships have become more democratic
4. children’s products and services - families spend their disposable income on children’s products and activities
are families child centred?
how are families not child centred?
- laws - justify adult control over children’s lives
- safeguarding policies - some children are abused by adults
- children’s rights - millions live in poverty and are dependent on food banks
- children’s products and services - tech and junk food deprives children of a ‘proper’ childhood
is childhood disappearing?
what are the four ways it could be seen that childhood is disappearing?
the d…
flight…
sexual…
toxic…
1. the death of childhood - postman
-‘social blurring’ is happening
-‘disappearing at a dazzling speed’
-visual media exposes children to adult themes
2. flight from parenting - phillips
-culture of parenting has been broken down
-media has taken over primary socialisation
3. sexualisation of childhood - margo
-having sex at a younger age
-businesses encouraging children to act in a sexual way
4. toxic childhood - palmer
-children have a toxic childhood that deprives them of a ‘proper’ childhood
- there are restrictions to stop children from accessing adult content and parental controls
- overgeneralisation. postmodernists argue that there’s a greater choice in how parents socialise their children
- recommendations for the gov - stricter guidelines for businesses
- opie says that distinct children’s play and games are still around
is childhood disappearing?
what are the four ways it could be seen that childhood is not disappearing?
l…
s…
child c…
children’s…
- laws separate childhood from adulthood
- safeguarding laws to protect children
- families are child centred
- children’s products and services
