Family - Childhood Flashcards
explain that childhood is a social construction
childhood is something created by society rather than
a biological state and the experiences of childhood differ between societies and historical periods
Who looked at childhood in pre-industrial western society
Phillipe Aries (1962)
What were Phillipe Aries (1962) main claims
children were little adults and took part in the same work and activities as adults. Children also had the same punishment. Toys and games for children didn’t exist. Not regarded as innocent. They are economic asset and the high infant mortality rate showed they did not emotionally invest in their children and kept mourning to a minimum
what are the points against Phillipe Aries (1962) claims
He based his research on a small sample of untypical French aristocratic families
Explain childhood and industrialisation
after industrialisation the little adult idea continued especially among the WC in factories and mills, Aries argued the MC attitudes towards children started to change there was a growth in parental love and infant mortality rate started to fall
explain the social attitudes after industrialisation
many 19th century campaigners were concerned with juvenile delinquency , beggars and child prostitution and so wanted to get children of the streets and so they were excluded from mines and factories were they were killed and injured
What happened in 1870 and what historical time was this
mass education after industrialisation - middle 19th century
why did the working class resist the movement of of mass education and what was done in response to this
they continued to send their child to work as they depended on their wage and so education was made legally compulsory in 1880 in response to this
Who looked at the 20th century the child-centered society
Cunningham (2006)
Explain the characteristics of Cunningham (2006)
children are regarded as fundamentally different to adults
childhood and adulthood are seen as opposites
The world of the adult and the world of the child are consequently now regarded as separated
Explain further cunninghams characteristics - children are regarded as fundamentally different to adults
children they are seen as both physically and psychologically immature + no longer mini adults
instead seen as vulnerable + consequently the belief that children lack the skills, knowledge + experience to run their own live + so need lengthy period of nurturing, socialisation and dependency has become dominant.
Explain further cunninghams characteristics - childhood and adulthood are seen as opposites
adulthood is associated with individuality , maturity and morality whereas childhood is seen as lacking these attributes
Explain further cunninghams characteristics - The world of the adult and the world of the child are consequently now regarded as separated
Childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life stage + children occupy a separate status from adults + children are seen to have the right to innocence + happiness + so are seen as in need of protection from adult influences
what effects has industrialisation have on family life and on the status of children
- Improved standards of living = nutrition - decline in IMR + decline family size + children became more expensive + contraception allowed them to have fewer children and focus on 1 or 2 in socialisation
- laws banning + restricting children doing paid work + becomes less as an economic asset + more economically dependent
- The government brought laws to protect children from neglect + cruelty which aimed to raise parental standards of child welfare (1889 Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act
- Introduction of compulsory schooling in 1880 reinforced economic dependency + so did the leaving school at 15 in 1944 and 16 in 1972
- children differences from adults was shown in differences in marketing and consumption of goods and services specifically aimed at children in terms of dress, toys and books for example
A great deal of social policy has been passed since 1945 aimed at protecting the rights of welfare and children - give examples (4)
Compulsory education - supervising socialisation and in 2013 was raise to 18
Social services- police those families in which children are thought to be at risk
The gov takes economic responsibility by paying child benefit and tax credits to parents
Governments have also taken responsibility for reducing child poverty
What act produced ‘Every child matters’
2004 Children act
Explain the 2004 Children act
‘Every child matters’ which focuses on the wellbeing of children and young people from birth to age 19 this stresses better outcomes for children such as ‘being healthy,staying safe’
What happened in 2007 in the government
they set up Department for Children,Schools and Families to ensure that all young people:
- stay healthy and safe
- enjoy their childhood
- make + contribution to society and the economy
- have lives full of opportunity, free from the effects of poverty
- secure an excellent education and the highest possible standards of achievement
What act in 1991 shows children have come to be seen as individuals with rights
Child Support Act (1991)
what does the Child Support Act (1991) deal with
the care,bringup and protection of children + protects their welfare in the event of divorce emphasising the primary concern of the state should be the child + what children themselves say about their experiences and needs.
What have children used the Child Support Act (1991) for
to ‘divorce their parents’
to ‘force’ their separated or divorced parents to see them more regularly
What did the coalition government do
changed the department to the department of education which focused more on :
move towards academies
free schools
increased independence of school management teams
increased parental choice
moving away from every child matters brought in by Labour
However in the time of the coalition what happened which was likely to have a - impact on the lives of young children
Cuts in welfare
2013 - Child Poverty Action Group warned that cuts in welfare spending are likely to result in an extra 600,00 children being pushed into poverty and local authorities have experienced cut so child services and free bus passes in further education are likely to be cut
Who looked at cross-cultural differences in childhood
Punch (2001)
Holmes (1974)
Explain what Punch (2001) did + found
looked at cross cultural differences in childhood
he studies children in Bolivia + found children take on work responsibilities at 5 without question or hesitation
Explain what Holmes (1974) found
in Samoa ‘too young’ was never given as a reason for not allowing a child to take part in physical + dangerous work
What are the 6 theoretical approaches in regard to childhood
- The march of progress view
- The conflict view
a) inequalities among children
b) inequalities between children and adults - Interpretivist accounts of childhood
- The functionalist/New right view
- The disappearance of childhood thesis
- Post-Modern theories of childhood
Explain the march of progress view as a theoretical approach in regard to childhood
status of chidren in western societies has improved - Aries argues today children are more valued, better cared for protected and educated, better health + have more rights
Family has become child centred no longer seen not heard like victorian times. Instead are focus point + consulted on many decisions.Parents invest in their children emotionally and financially
Explain the main points in the conflict view a) inequalities among children
In a less developed nations childhood is experienced very differently - poverty, malnurishment,no education
inequalities between ethnic groups and religious groups - more obligation and duty to their parents in Hindu families for example
inequalities between gender - socialisation
Inequalities in social class - mc more economic + cultural support and WC childhood may be more difficult because of poverty
What are the major inequalities between children and adults
neglect and abuse control over children space control over time control over body control over access to resources
Explain neglect and abuse as a major inequality between adults and children
NSPCC - each weak at least one child dies as a result of adults cruelty and 30,000 children are on child protection registers because they are at risk of abuse
20,000 calls a year saying they have been sexually or physically assaulted
Explain control over children space as a major inequality between adults and children using a study
Children movements are subjected to control from schools and parents and parents fear of road safety and stranger danger mean children spend more time at home
Hillman (1071) 80% of 7-8 year olds were allowed to got o school without adult supervision compared to 9% in 1990
Explain control over control over time as a major inequality between adults and children using a study
adults control their child daily routine (what time they eat) and control the speed they grow up, it is they who decide whether they are old enough or grown up enough to do an activity
Explain control over children bodies as a major inequality between adults and children using a study
adults control how they sit,walk,run,dress,hairstyles and whether or not they can have their ears pierced and it is taken for granted how there bodies can be touched e.g. washed, held, kissed, disciplined,hands held and picked up. However adults may restrict the children on how they tough themselves for example not being aloud to suck their thumb for example
Explain control over children’s access to resources as a major inequality between adults and children using a study
children may only have limited opportunities to earn money and remain economically dependent and pocket money s dependent on good behaviour and even then there may be restrictions on what they can spend it on
What did Hockey and James (1993) identify and conclude
2 strategies adopted by children which indicate that they may experience childhood as oppressive:
they act up
they act down
they conclude that modern childhood is a status most children want to escape
Explain when children act up
they act like adults by doing things that children are not supposed to do such as swearing and drinking
Explain when children act down
They behave in ways expected of younger children in order to resist adult control such as talking in baby language or insisting on being carried
Explain the interpretivist account of childhood
children have their own interpretation of family life which they actively employ in interactions with their parents as unlike the functionalist/new the relationship between parents and children is a 2 way process
Which researchers look at the interpretivist account of childhood
Morrow (1998)
Mayall (2004)
What did Morrow (1998) find
children can be constructive + reflective contributors to family life and most children had a pragmatic view of their family role - they did not want to make decision themselves but did want to have a say in what happened to them.
Children are able to create their own definition of who is family which can be based upon personal choice e.g. friends (Auntie Sarah)
Explain the function/new right view as a theoretical approach to childhood
childhood is under threat by divorce, homosexuality and mothers going to work etc and children need to be protected from them
homosexuality - successful child rearing require 2 parents of the opposites sex and that there is a right way to raise a child
blame single mothers/inadequate parents/ absent fathers for social problems such as delinquency
Who looked at the disappearance of childhood
Postman (1982)
Phillips (1997)
Explain how Postman (1982) sees childhood
disappearing at a dazzling speed and points a trend towards children being given the same rights as adults, similarity of adult and child clothing and commiting adult crimes
What does postman argue
tv = most - effect as it blurs the distinction between childhood and adulthood as it makes information about sex, money,violence available and so does the internet with images and info they were perviously shelter from.
This breaks down the boundary between adults and children and so reducing adult authority. The ignorance + innocence s replaced by knowledge and cynicism
What do critic say about postman argument
cause him of exaggerating the degree to which children were shelled from adult life and sexuality in past eras and over emphasises tv at the expense of raising living standards and changes in law
Who supports the critics of postman
Pilcher who argues 19th century Factory acts with banned children from working in factories, mines and mills were more influential in separating children from adults than tv for example
What does Phillips argue
the culture of parenting in the UK has broken downed the innocence of childhood has been undermined by two trends
What are the 2 trends Phillips identified
liberal ideas which given to many rights and powers to children
the media and the peer group have been more influential than childhood
Explain liberal ideas which given to many rights and powers to children as one of Phillips trends which have undermined the innocence of childhood
parenting has been distorted by liberal ideas which given to many rights and powers to children and parents have been increasingly criticised and penalised for resorting to sanctions such as smacking
Explain the media and the peer group have been more influential than childhood as one of Phillips trends which have undermined the innocence of childhood
media aimed at young girls, tv and pop music videos are a problem as they encourage them to sexualise themselves at a young age and so childhood is shortened.
Many children do not have the emotional maturity to cope with the rights and choices they have and so leading to an increase of social problems such as suicide,eating disorders, depression and drug and alcohol abuse for example
Who looks at the toxic childhood (2007)
Sue Palmer
What trends does Sue Palmer explain
adults are benefiting from tech - enriching their lives however the same tech is harming kids as parents are using them instead of alternative practices such as instead of reading them a book they are just putting them infant of the tv to keep them quiet and so are deprived from a traditional childhood
What 2 sociological concerns have arisen from Sue Palmers trends
Pester power
peer pressure
Explain pester power through a study
Pugh (2002) suggests that parents who are rich but time poor alleviate their guilt about not spending time with their kids by buying them whatever consumer goods they desire
Explain Evans and Chandler (2006) “peer pressure” as a sociological concern which have arisen from sue palmers trends
peer pressure was an important rationale for consumption in that they are feared of being bullied by other children for not wearing clothing or labels approved by their peers - WC families felt this pressure the most
Who looks at post modern theories of childhood
Jencks
What does Jencks argue
identies have become destabilised so no-one has a grounded sense of who they are
the parent-child bond has become the most important relationship which intensifies the sense that kids need to be protected and helps explain the growing anxiety about child abuse. Children become subject to increased surveillance because parents are more fearful for their children and determined to protect them
Explain Jencks argument
class solidarity has broken down and family life is insecure with frequent divorce In these circumstances children have become the most important source of primary relationships - the most fulfilling and unconditional relationships - wives and husbands have become disposable but not children
What conclusions can be brought in childhood
Childhood may be disappearing because of falling birth and death rates - these produce an ageing population
children are no longer leaving home because of unemployment and high house rices and so the length of Childs dependency on parents is likely to increase
