Theorists - Childhood Flashcards
KEY THEORIST - BENEDICT (1934): DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CULTURE AND CHILDHOOD
What did they do?
- Carry out a comparative study between non industrial and industrial societies.
KEY THEORIST - BENEDICT (1934): DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CULTURE AND CHILDHOOD
What did their study find?
- Children took on many responsibilities at an early age.
- Values of non-western countries fail to recognise that child are subordinate to adults.
- Attitudes towards sexual behaviour of children were different in non-industrial countries, and the sexual activity of children at a young age was seen as a less major problem.
- Less of a division of labour between adults and children - childhood is not universal.
KEY THEORIST - PILCHER (1995): CHILDHOOD
What do they argue?
- The most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness.
- Childhood is a clear, distinct life stage, and childhood occupy a separate status from adults.
KEY THEORIST - PILCHER (1995): CHILDHOOD
How can their ideas be evaluated?
- Ideas are supported by laws surrounding what children are and are not allowed to do.
KEY THEORIST - WAGG (1992): CHILDHOOD
What do they argue?
- Childhood is not universal and is instead, socially constructed.
KEY THEORIST - ARIES (1960): CHILDHOOD OVER TIME
What did they find?
- Childhood - non-existent.
- After being weaned, children entered the same world as adults and received the same punishment for breaking the law.
- Children were ‘mini’ adults who became economic assets.
KEY THEORIST - SHORTER (1975): CHILDHOOD OVER TIME
What did they find?
- Parental attitudes differed from today.
- Children received more neglect and less emotional care due to a high death rate.
KEY THEORIST - POSTMAN (1994): CHILDHOOD
What do they argue?
Childhood is rapidly disappearing due to the following:
- Children have the same rights as adults
- Disappearance of traditional children’s games
- Children wear the same clothes as adults
- Children are likely to commit the same crimes as adults
- Children are exposed to the same images as adults, and these are often of sex and violence.
KEY THEORIST - OPIE (1993): CHILDHOOD
What did they research and what do they argue as a result?
Researched children’s games and songs overtime: believes that childhood still exists and is not disappearing.
KEY THEORIST - PALMER (2006): CHILDHOOD
What do they argue?
- Childhood is becoming increasingly toxic
- Rapid technological and cultural changes - damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development.
- The increase of junk food has increased obesity.
- Longer parental working hours - increased the neglect of children.
- Consumerism is aimed at children.
