The Changing Nature of Childhood

Question 1

What are the 4 theories of the changing nature of childhood?

Answer 1

• March of Progress View
• Postmodern
• Disappearance of childhood
• Toxic Childhood

Question 2

What is the March of Progress view about in terms of the changing nature of childhood?

Answer 2

Focused on the idea that the social status of children in the west has improved since the beginning of the 20th century. A highly positive theory about the position which children now hold in the UK

Question 3

What does Aries call the modern view on childhood?

Answer 3

The modern cult on childhood

Question 4

What three things did Aries state which highlighted the change in the view of childhood?

Answer 4

• development of products aimed at children
• focus in education shifted
• child rearing techniques

Question 5

How did the development of products aimed at children highlight the shift in the view of childhood (Aries)?

Answer 5

Due to industrialisation, tradesmen started to specialise in children’s products. These included toys, games ect. Highlighted that children were no longer regarded as mini adults, but rather an entirely seperate group.

Question 6

How did the shift in the focus on education highlight the shift in the view of childhood (Aries)?

Answer 6

More and more schools specialised in the teaching of children, rather than the teaching of adults. Showed that children were increasingly being seen as a group to be nurtured and developed by adults

Question 7

How did child rearing techniques highlight the shift in the view of childhood (Aries)?

Answer 7

In the 20th century, adults become increasingly interested in the raising in children. They wanted to raise them in the “correct way”. Shows a huge shift in how children are no perceived, with the experiences of children seemingly changing for their better

Question 8

What does March of Progress sociologist Cunningham (2006) believe about the changing nature of childhood?

Answer 8

By the middle of the 20th century, Britain had become a child-centered society. Children were given a special status in which they were regarded as important members of society and families. Government policy was geared around children. Parents saw children to be cherished and loved, often having fewer children so they could lavish the ones they did have. Kids became an economic burden on families, lot of money being spent on them.

Question 9

Evaluation of the March of Progress View on the changing view of childhood?

Answer 9

• childhood is not a positive experience for all children in the U.K. due to poverty and abuse
• child centred-ness may not be a positive thing, can lead to kids being spoiled

Question 10

What do Disappearance of Childhood sociologist believe about the changing view on childhood?

Answer 10

The new-right sociologists disagree with the March of Progress view. Children are developing adult tendencies too quickly and parents are unable to stop this as children have all the power.
Also, some parents do not care enough about their child’s upbringing, which is part of problem.

Question 11

What does disappearance of childhood sociologist Postman (1994) believe about the changing view of childhood?

Answer 11

The disappearance of childhood is due to the invention of television. Kids are exposed to the adult world too quickly, leaving kids jaded from an early age.

Question 12

What does disappearance of childhood sociologist Postman (1994) believe about the changing view of childhood and specifically times before the invention of television?

Answer 12

Before television existed, information About negative events could only be accessed via written press. Postman calls this the information hierarchy, meaning children could not access this information, keeping them innocent for longer

Question 13

What does disappearance of childhood sociologist Postman (1994) believe about the changing view of childhood and specifically times after the invention of television?

Answer 13

Following the 1960s, tele caused the decline in the information hierarchy. 24/7 TV makes it very difficult to shield explicit information from children. Information on the TV is easier for kids to understand due to graphic visuals.
Disappearance of childhood as children begin to think and worry like adults.

Question 14

What does disappearance sociologist Pugh (2002) believe?

Answer 14

That children are a huge target for marketing, with businesses manipulating children into thinking they need certain toys and games. Children then apply per steer power to their parents, pressuring them to purchase such goods.
Parents then give in to this pester power….

Question 15

What two reason does disappearance sociologist Pugh (2002) give for reasons as to why parents give into pester power?

Answer 15

• cash rich but time poor

- shift in power in the parent-child relationship

Question 16

According to Pugh, how does being cash rich but time poor make parents give in to pester power?

Answer 16

Most families are headed by dual career couples, so there is no parent to be a full time carer. Parents then want to buy their children more stuff to make up for the time lost from work. Pugh calls this consumption compensation.As children are left to their own devices more they’re likely to grow up quicker.

Question 17

According to Pugh, how has a shift in power in the parent-child relationship make parents give into pester power?

Answer 17

Children have more power over their parents so give in easily to their child’s demands. This is bad thing, as children become demanding and out of control

Question 18

Evaluation of the disappearance of childhood view of childhood changing theory?

Answer 18

• children do not grow up too quickly, teenagers aren’t required to work and stay in education longer than ever before.
• TV isn’t as detrimental as they may say, policies are in place to reduce screen time.

Question 19

What do the Postmodern believe about the changing attitudes to childhood?

Answer 19

They reject the view that childhood is disappearing as children get too many freedoms and privileges.

Question 20

What does Postmodern sociologist Jenks (2005) believe about the changing views of childhood?

Answer 20

In this world, there is a growing awareness of risk. The awareness is in part with the growing use of social media, since the 1970s there have been campaigns on child safety which has raised awareness for such issues meaning parents are more protective than ever before. They’re not allowed to walk to school correctly ect. Meaning children are not growing up too quickly, instead quite the opposite.

Question 21

What does Postmodern sociologist Jenks (2005) believe about the parent-child relationship?

Answer 21

The parent-child relationship is becoming much more intense due to adult relations being less stable, meaning for many adults, the relationship with their child is the only thing they have. Further heightens the parental drive to protect their children. All this meaning they grow up a lot slower…

Question 22

Evaluation of the Postmodern theory of the changes to childhood?

Answer 22

• there are more new, genuine threats today such as online abuse and hacking which parents have a right to be concerned over
• not all kids are over protected, some are abused and Jenks doesn’t consider this

Question 23

What does the Toxic Childhood theory believe about the changing view of childhood?

Answer 23

They focus on the very negative changes which have occurred within childhood today.

Question 24

What does Toxic Child sociologist Palmer (2002) believe about the changes to childhood?

Answer 24

She notes that the rapid technological and cultural changes have significantly damaged children.

Question 25

What 4 things are children likely to experience today according to Toxic sociologist Palmer (2002)?

Answer 25

• food consumption and diet
• significance of media
• shift in focus in education
• changes to the family

Question 26

According to Toxic sociologist Palmer (2002), how has food consumption and diet affected children?

Answer 26

Some children are regularly fed processed foods and junk food, which contributes towards childhood obesity. Also kids are blighted by eating and mental health disorders by ages as early as 8

Question 27

According to Toxic sociologist Palmer (2002) how has significance of media affected children?

Answer 27

Early exposure to media is very damaging. From an early age children are left feeling pressured to possess certain products and look certain ways in order to feel happy which is thought to be connected to many mental health issues found amongst kids.

Question 28

According to Toxic sociologist Palmer (2002), how has the shift in focus of education affected children?

Answer 28

Education has shifted away from learning and more towards examination, placing children under a lot of stress. Palmer believes that kids are left feeling anxious by the focus on exams, consequently struggling to cope with the demands school places on them

Question 29

According to Toxic sociologist Palmer (2002), how has changes to the family affected children?

Answer 29

Due to families being dual career, children perhaps do not get the love and attention they require. Becoming more common for children to go through their parents divorce, which places a lot of stress and anxiety onto the child. This is called the derogatory impact on the behaviours of children and teenagers - more and more kids are turning to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism

Question 30

Evaluation of the Toxic Childhood theory on the changes to childhood?

Answer 30

• majority of children do not actually experience the negative aspects of childhoood
• there is no evidence to suggest children are acting any worse than they did…