FAMILY - Childhood Flashcards
What did Pilcher argue, in regards to Childhood? HINT: Separate from Adulthood!
They noted that in Western Europe today, childhood is distinctly separate from adulthood, with children being specially protected and regulated and they have a separate set of right and responsibilities from the adult population!
What does Stephen Wagg argue that Childhood should NOT be understood from? HINT: Biological Immaturity
He argues that childhood must be understood separately from biological immaturity and that there is no definition. Children in different social groups and in different societies have different experiences of childhood!
EG: Some children in some areas of the work have to have dangerous jobs as soldiers; in the UK, children over 10 have to accept criminal responsibility; in the UK, from the age of 17, people can drive! = What age are we not ‘children’ anymore?
What did Aries study and what did they Discover? HINT: Paintings!
They studied historic artwork!
They found that medieval family portraits showed children dressed in the same way as their parents and also showed them working in fields and in occupations alongside adult workers!
What did Aries conclude had emerged alongside Industrialisation> HINT: ‘The Cult of the …..’
‘The Cult of the Child’ = Following industrialisation, a cultural change occurred and children came to be seen as requiring care and being special and different from adults (also with help with the introduction of laws in the UK, regarding Child Labour)!
Who did Aries say that ‘The Cult of the Child’ had started from in society? HINT: The top to the bottom!
It began as an upper-class and middle-class phenomenon which then gradually spread to other social classes ==> Links to Functionalism and the idea of Stratified Diffusion!
What are the Evaluating Points for Aries?
- Pollock = Criticised Aries –> Just because children were portrayed a certain way in art, this does not mean that their parents did not care for them!
- Medieval family portraits only represented a tiny minority of the population (also usually the wealthy) so is not representative of all of society at the time!
What does Postman argue, in regards to Childhood? HINT: Disappearing!
He argues that Childhood is ‘disappearing’!
He suggests that children today grow up very quickly and that the main driver for this is New Media technology, such as TV!
Explain what Postman means by the ‘childification’ of adults and the ‘adultification’ of children!
The distinction between both adults and children was becoming blurred and therefore the existence of a separate category was disappearing!
Adults and children may enjoy the same music, wear the same clothes and watch the same TV shows –> Adults are becoming ‘childlike’ and children are becoming ‘adult-like’!
This is due to the Global Popular Culture (Strinati) and GLOBALISATION and NEW MEDIA!
What are the Evaluating Points for Postman?
- Instead of arguing that Childhood is disappearing, others argue that it is expanding –> The extension of compulsory education and the difficulty for young adults to buy or rent property increases their likelihood in returning to their parents’ home (features of childhood)!
- Lee (2005) and Opie (1993) = They point out that childhood is still distinct from adulthood both financially and culturally –> Differences between the Western concept of Childhood with the rest of the world!
What does Sue Palmer day regarding ‘Childhood’? HINT: ‘Toxic’!
Palmer argues that Childhood has become ‘Toxic’ in contemporary society!
Today, children are becoming obese; because they do not play outside; their early years are also becoming more ‘school-like’ and less ‘play-like’! = This leads to high levels of anxiety in schools!
Also, the emergence of New Media means that children spend too much time looking at their screens rather than interacting with others –> This reduced their attention span and their communication skills!
What are the Evaluating Points and Ideas regarding Sue Palmer and her ideas of ‘Toxic Childhood’?
- Other sociologists argue that these are ‘first world problems’ –> It is rather more privileged to be buying the latest trainers than to be in a sweatshop making them or in a place that is full of conflict!
- Some would argue that the real ‘Toxic Childhood’ would be that of children having to work in dangerous conditions or those who are subject to beatings or violence at home and a school (EG: With the cane)!
