MT5 - Childhood

Question 1

Is Childhood is a social construct

Answer 1

Historical differences in childhood - Aries

Modern western notion [idea] of childhood - Pilcher

Cross-cultural differences in childhood - Benedict

NO - Biological view of childhood

Question 2

Historical differences in childhood

Answer 2

If childhood was not socially constructed, all children throughout history would have been treated the same and expected to behave the same.

Aries studied letters, diaries and paintings and concluded that in the Middle Ages the idea of childhood did not exist. Children were seen and treated as mini adults with the same rights, duties and skills as adults.

Question 3

Modern western notion [idea] of childhood +C

Answer 3

Pilcher argues that Childhood is seen as a golden age of happiness and innocence therefore children are seen as vulnerable and in need of protection. Evident by child protection laws

Evaluation – this is only the view of childhood in the western world, but not in all – in some societies children are not seen as separate from adults.

Question 4

Aries - CC

Answer 4

In the 18th century books started to be written on how to raise children and the middle class became child-centred.

Aries says there is now a cult of childhood - and the 20th century is the century of the child as there is growing awareness of children’s rights and empowerment.

Children are seen as active family members and make more of a democratic contribution to the family e.g. ‘pester power’.

Question 5

Pollock

Answer 5

Criticises Aries and argues that rather than not existing in the Middle Ages, people just had a different idea of what it is to be a child.

Question 6

Cross-cultural differences in childhood

Answer 6

Benedict – children in LEDCs experience childhood differently to their peers in the MEDCs because they take on responsibilities at an early age e.g. working from a young age and engaging in sexual behaviour

Evaluation – the western idea of childhood is becoming globalised – it is now spreading to LEDCs by western charities so increasingly children in LEDCs are going to school and having more time for play.

Question 7

Has the position of children in society and the family improved

Answer 7

Yes: Aries and Shorter + Butler et al

No: Furedi + Palmer

Question 8

Aries and Shorter

Answer 8

March of progress view - over the last few centuries, children’s lives have been improving and are now better than ever as the family and society have become child-centred so parents invest emotional work, time and money into their children

Question 9

Criticism of Aries and Shorter

Answer 9

Childhood has improved for some, depending on gender, ethnicity and class - Hillman (boys have more freedom), Brannen (Asian parents tend to be particularly strict, especially towards their daughters)

Question 10

Furedi

Answer 10

Paranoid parenthood

Parents are so worried about their children’s safety (because of the media creating a moral panic about dangers to children) that they prevent them from playing outside, going on school trips, etc.

As a result, children spend their time indoors, playing console games, eating junk food (obesity epidemic) and not developing their imagination or social skills which damages children’s development and experience of childhood.

Question 11

Palmer

Answer 11

Toxic Childhood

rapid technological and cultural changes cause psychological and physical damage to children:

1) The decline of listening, language and communication skills because of shortened attention spans (caused by commuter games)
2) Tests, targets and education – increases anxiety among children.

Question 12

Palmer Criticism

Answer 12

This could be an example of an adult ‘panicking’ about technological changes, maybe children are more adaptable than Palmer thinks?

Question 13

Death of childhood?

Answer 13

Yes: Postman + Qvotrup

No: Jenks + Furedi

Question 14

Postman

Answer 14

ass media has brought the adult world into the lives of children so the boundary between the lives of children and adults is breaking down resulting in children growing up too quickly and losing their innocence.

They are becoming more like adults in terms of their dress, criminal and sexual behaviour which means the end of childhood

Question 15

Qvotrup

Answer 15

Childhood is disappearing because of falling birth rates
As fewer children are born there are fewer investments into children’s resources such as schools, playgrounds…

Childhood is also becoming an isolated experience as there are fewer children in the family and neighbourhood.

Question 16

Opie

Answer 16

disagrees with Qvotrup and argues childhood is not disappearing. She carried out research into children’s toys, games, songs and claims there is a continuity of children’s culture.

Question 17

Criticism of Postman

Answer 17

Postman overemphasises the influence of television and ignores other factors that affect the development of childhood.

Question 18

Jenks

Answer 18

childhood is not disappearing, it is simply changing.

Postmodernity is characterised by choice and individualism which means that relationships are more unstable, e.g. increase in divorce,

As a result, parents see their relationships with their children as the most important relationship as this is the relationship that’s for life.

This has made parents even more fearful for their children’s safety and preoccupied with protecting them therefore, childhood continues to be a separate status to adulthood with legal restrictions placed on children.

Question 19

Furedi

Answer 19

Childhood is being extended (well into a person’s 20s and 30s).

There has been an increase in kidults

This is because of economic factors (the raising cost of living) + cultural factors (parents are now far more protective of their children than in the past and therefore encourage their
adult children’s dependency on them)

Question 20

Criticism of Jenks

Answer 20

assumes all children have the same experiences of childhood