Outline and discuss the view that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK

Question 1

point 1

Answer 1

One way that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK is that due to changes in modern society childhood lasts much shorter and isn’t seen as an important and innocent period.

Question 2

example 1

Answer 2

Phillips believes the period of childhood has been shortened and it is no longer a sacred and innocent period lasting up to 13-14 years. She argues this is due to children not being socialised into a healthy respect for parental authority, an undermining of children’s rights and an increase in of influence from peer groups and media.

Question 3

explain 1

Answer 3

This shows that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK as now adulthood encroaches upon the experiences of children a great deal earlier than in the past whereas in the past children were aloud to be free and be separate from adults.

Question 4

counter 1

Answer 4

Lee argues that Children are dependent on their parents as their parents still provide them with material goods which shows that childhood isn’t disappearing as an important feature of childhood is being dependent on parents.

Question 5

point 2

Answer 5

Another way that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK is that there is an increasing influence from adult culture on children has blurred the lines between childhood and adulthood

Question 6

example 2

Answer 6

Postman argues that childhood is only possible if children can be separated and protected from the adult world. The mass media and television in particular, have brought the adult world into the lives of children. They behave, speak and dress in more adult ways, while adults have enjoyed looking more like kids and youth generally. As a result, the boundaries between the worlds of children and adults are breaking down, Which eventually will lead to the end of childhood.

Question 7

explain 2

Answer 7

This shows that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK as there is less difference between childhood and adulthood than there was before, previously children would be independent and have separate things to adults, but now adults and children both share a lot of interests.

Question 8

counter 2

Answer 8

Jenks does not believe that childhood is disappearing as children continue to be highly regulated and restricted by laws which control behaviour in public spaces, and are prevented from taking up adult roles until they reach specific ages.

Question 9

point 3

Answer 9

Another way that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK is that children now have a large influence on the consumer market which means that everyone is being more influenced by children as they are changing the consumer market independently.

Question 10

example 3

Answer 10

Buckingham argues that children are growing in importance as a consumer market. Children in Western societies have become a major economic force. Their tastes and preferences, in toys, games, personal computers and mobile phones, have a major effect on what is produced and purchased.

Question 11

explain 3

Answer 11

This shows that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK because if children are influencing the consumer market then adults are becoming accustom to their tastes which is making society less segregated through different age periods.

Question 12

counter 3

Answer 12

However Cunningham believes that three principles form the basis of contemporary parenting are; Children should be separated from the adult world, This is because children can be corrupted through exposure to adult life and they need to be protected from it, The happiness of children is paramount.

Question 13

point 4

Answer 13

A final way that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK is that parents are becoming more obsessed with their children’s safety which means they are being more controlled and are given less freedom.

Question 14

example 4

Answer 14

Brooks (2001) argues that parents today are obsessed with safety and ever more concerned with defining boundaries for their kids and widening their control and safety net around them.

Question 15

explain 4

Answer 15

This shows that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK because children are no longer aloud to have fun and make sense of the world because their parents are so obsessed with their safety.

Question 16

counter 4

Answer 16

On the other hand, Sue Palmer claims that parents increasingly use television and electronic games to keep children entertained and they put less effort and time into interacting with their children.

Question 17

intro

Answer 17

Childhood is a social construction, in other words, it is shaped and given meaning by culture and society. However childhood is changing, and many argue that these changes are leading to it disappearing.

Question 18

conclusion

Answer 18

In conclusion the view that childhood is disappearing in the contemporary UK has a lot of truth to it, this is due to the breaking down of boundaries between adulthood and childhood, this is supported by multiple studies such as Postman and Buckingham.