The Western Notion Of Childhood

Question 1

The modern western notion of childhood

Answer 1

• children gace golden age
• they are less skilled so are nurtured
• they have a seperate status than adults
  Pilcher talks about separateness children have a distinct life stage
  -golden age refers to childhood as being a time of innocence. They are considered vunerable they lead lives of play and leisure and are kept away from the adult wold.
• depends on society childhood is a social construct

Question 2

Cross cultural differences in childhood

Answer 2

See how children are treated in different times and places
-Take responsibility at early age Bolivia at 5 years they take full responsibility
-less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
Tikopia
Children’s sexual behaviour is shown differently people showed interest towards children’s sexual exploration in the South Pacific

Question 3

Globalisation of western childhood

Answer 3

Campaigners western people display in what childhood should be like.

Question 4

Historical differences in childhood

Answer 4

Childhood differed in time aswell as societies.
- Aries argues in the Middle Ages from 10th to 13th century childhood did not exist
- soon after being weaned children entered the wider society
- children were in effect mini adults
The work of art shows children and adults doing the same thing the children are just smaller scale
- shorter argues high death rates encouraged indifference and neglect

Question 5

The modern cult of childhood

Answer 5

According to Aries elements of the modern notion of childhood began to emerge after the 13th century

• schools came to specialise purely in the education because churches taught children are the creatures of God
• distinction between and children and adults clothing
• by the 18th century handbooks on child bearing were widely available a sign of growing child centredness

Question 6

Reasons for changes in the position of childhood