Roles and Relationships Between Parents and Children Flashcards
What is ‘age patriarchy’
The inequality in power between parents and children
What did the rise of the child-centered 20th century nuclear family see
Saw children acquiring the right to be protected from external threats initiated by parents and other adults
How is age patriarchy seen through financial issues
Children only have limited opportunities to earn money and so they are still economically dependant on their parents for food, shelter, clothing etc.
How is age patriarchy seen through spare time
Where children spend their time is often subjected to control and surveillance by parents. Parents fear about road safety etc, so instead the child spends more time in the home under adult supervision
How is age patriarchy seen through the law
The law gives parents legitimate authority to socially control their children’s behaviour, like they have to attend school till they are 18
What can age patriarchy result in
Toxic childhood
Define toxic childhood
According to Sue Palmer the idea that children are being damaged by a diet of junk food, excessive exposure to computer games and lack of love or discipline from parents forced to work long hours away from home
What does Chambers (2010) argue
That parenting in the UK to change in the 1970s because more women started to go out to work in large numbers and because more parents were divorcing
What do feminists argue about motherhood
That patriarchal attitudes still dominate ideas about ‘good’ mothering
What does Chambers say about motherhood
That there exists an ideology of motherhood organised around the idea of ‘putting children’s needs first’. She says the mother is perceived the core of the family as the emotional stabiliser that keeps the whole family together
What does patriarchal ideology expect
Women to take on jobs that are compatible with family commitments. It also results in large numbers of mothers feeling guilty about working full time. Some even give up work as they believe their absence will damage their children
What does Park (2014) criticise and what does she observe instead
Criticises ‘the ideology of mono maternalism’
She observes that a significant number of children are now being brought up by two dads or two mums and other reason like foster or divorced parents
What does Miller point out about fatherhood
The responsibilities and practices associated with fatherhood are not clear-cut or as morally regulated as those of motherhood.
What are the three reasons associated with changes to fatherhood
- Divorce seems to have lead fathers spending more time with their children
- Masculine attitudes have changed and have become more feminised - becoming more in touch with emotions etc
- Changing patterns in employment mean more male unemployment - meaning they are at home with the kids more
What does a longer life expectancy mean
That grandparents play a grater role than ever in the lives of their grandchildren
