the nature of childhood

Question 1

childhood

Answer 1

•a modern concept that has become age-focused and universal in nature. this limits and protects individuals within a particular age range who are deemed to be children.
•childhood usually ends at 16 but a young person must be 18 in the uk to enjoy full adult rights and responses

Question 2

:) De Mause - higher levels of childcare

Answer 2

the position of children in western society has been steadily improving and today is at the best its ever been, the further back in history one goes, the lower the level of childcare and the more likely children are to be killed, neglected and abused

Question 3

:( mental health - Womack

Answer 3

•Womack(2011) UK’s children are the unhappiest in the west.

• Many children are affected by the growth in divorce, single parent families and reconstituted families, 1/3 teens living apart from their fathers.
• under a great deal of pressure to succeed in education and in other ways.
• UK youth top international tables for drug and alcohol abuse, self-harm and violence.

Question 4

:( Palmer - consumerism

Answer 4

•’toxic childhood syndrome’
• rapid technological and cultural changes in the past 25 years have damaged children’s PIEs development with junk food, video games and intensive child marketing

Question 5

:( Postman (1994) - the disappearance of childhood

Answer 5

•Media breaks down the distinction between children and adults - does not need skill to access. Ignorance and innocence replaced with cynicism:
-Children increasingly exposed to the same issues and experiences, globalised mass media eroding divisions.
-children expressed concern over climate change, poverty, crime and terrorism.
-“Sexualisation’ in ads and mags. (79% experienced violent porn before 18)

Question 6

Childhood as a social construct

Answer 6

• defined and created by society
• what is seen as childhood varies:
  > between societies
  > within societies
  > historically

Question 7

𐄂 Pilcher - laws/entertainment

Answer 7

•the modern idea of childhood is a clear and distinct stage of life, emphasised by laws regulating what children can do and what they cannot,
•fashion and entertainment are targeted at them with children seen as vulnerable ‘golden age’ of happiness and innocence

Question 8

✓ Wagg - biological maturity

Answer 8

•There is no single universal childhood that is experienced by everybody.
•Therefore childhood is not natural and should be distinguished by from mere biological maturity.

Question 9

✓ Benedict - non industrial societies (punch)

Answer 9

• Benedict argues that children in simpler, non industrial societies take responsibility at an early age.
• eg Punch found that in rural Bolivia once children are about five yrs old they are expected to take work responsibilities in the home and community

Question 10

✓ Aries - historical relativity

Answer 10

•childhood did not exist in the 10th to 13th centuries.
•In middle ages, children were not seen as having different nature or needs than adults.
•Childhood was seen as a separate age stage, and was seen as small. Soon after, children had entered wider society, beginning work and having responsibilities.

Question 11

Hillman - gender

Answer 11

•Boys and girls will have different experiences of childhood due to gender role socialisation.
•Mcrobbie) Boy’s generally given more freedom at an earlier age than girls who are often socialised into the bedroom culture of more sedate activities such as reading and talking with friends.

Question 12

brannen - Ethnicity

Answer 12

• different ethnic groups will have different expectations at what age they take on responsibilities
•in Asian families parents were much stricter, particularly on their daughters

Question 13

Woodroffe - class

Answer 13

• poor mothers are more likely to give birth to children of low birth weight which can be linked to delayed physical and mental development
• children from poor families are more likely to suffer long-standing illness and fall behind in school
• they are also more likely to be on a child protection list for neglect

Question 14

reasons for changes in childrens position

Answer 14

-laws restricting child labour and excluding children from paid work
-compulsory education
-child protection and welfare legislation
-the growth of children’s rights
-declining family size and lower infant mortality
- children’s development the subject of medical knowledge
- industrialisation