Key Sociologists of the Family: Topic 3 Childhood Flashcards
Benedict’s ideas on the social construction of childhood:
Children in non-western societies are generally treated differently from Western children in 3 ways:
1. Take responsibility from a young age
2. Less value placed on obedience to adults. 3. Children’s sexual behaviour is tolerated
Aries (1973) and the social construction of childhood
• During the Middle Ages ‘chlidhood’ did not exist; children were an economic asset, mini-adult, same status on law
• 17th-18th Century – ideas of childhood as a separate stage began to exist, e.g. children needing to be protected / nurtured at school
Aries & Shorter
March of Progress
March of Progress ideas:
The position of children in societies is steadily improving.
• Laws protect children from abuse, harm and exploitation.
• Education has improved – free access to all, children in school until 18.
• Healthcare – a range of professionals trained in attending needs of children. Infant mortality rate reduced.
• Society has become more catered towards children e.g. leisure / media
• Child-centred family
Aries & Shorter - Child-cantered family
The family has become centred on the needs of the children rather than the needs of adults.
Child-centred family due to smaller families and higher incomes.
Palmer (2010) & Childhood is toxic
Technological and cultural changes have damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual wellbeing.
Examples that childhood is toxic
junk food and obesity, testing in education and anxiety long hours worked by parents leading to less attention for children, high rates of depression, alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy.
Firestone and Holt (1979) & Child liberationism
Need to free children from adult control. This control can take a number of forms:
• Neglect and abuse
• Control over children’s space
• Control over children’s time
• Control over children’s bodies
• Control over children’s access to
resources
Postman’s idea on childhood
Childhood is disappearing – the information hierarchy
The information hierarchy
TV has brought about the disappearance of childhood, as children can access adult matters by watching TV. Previously this would have been hidden from children, as they would have been written down and children could not read.
Jenks (2005) & Postmodernism
Childhood is protected more than ever, it is not disappearing
• Adult relationships are unstable and uncertain which creates feelings of uncertainty.
• To compensate for increased divorce rates, relationships with children become more important.
• Adults have become increasingly fearful over children’s safety
• This has led to greater regulation and surveillance of children.
Smart (2011) - Personal Life Perspective /
The ‘New Sociology of Childhood.’
Children are active agents who play a major part in creating their own childhoods
• Need to study life from the child’s perspective.
• There are multiple childhoods within UK society.
• Need to understand children’s own definitions of who is ‘family’ – may include non-blood relatives.
• Smart’s study of divorce found that children were involved in trying to improve the situation.
