Topic 1- Families And Households

Question 1

How is childhood seen as a social construct?

Answer 1

It is created by society as it differs through cultures, times and places

Question 2

How does Pilcher describe the western notion of childhood, including 5 features of it?

Answer 2

He describes it as the ‘golden age’ of childhood and:
1) has separateness
2) time of happiness and innocence
3) kids are protected by adults from adult world
4) excluded from paid work
5) they dress different and have different products and likings

Question 3

What is wags view of childhood and what does it contrast with?

Answer 3

Wag believes childhood is socially constructed as it is different through times,places and cultures. It should be distinguished through biological immaturity. This contrasts with Pilchers golden age theory.

Question 4

Give evidence for cross-cultural differences in childhood.

Answer 4

Benedict- non-industrial children compared to western children, 3 differences:
1) NI kids take responsibility at a younger age, punch- kids from Bolivia work from age 5, holmes- samoan villages see being too young as an invalid excuse
2) less value on children obedience- Firth- tikopia adults dont expect kids to do as they’re told
3)childrens sexual behaviour is different- Malinowski- trobriand islands took amusement in childrens sexual exploration

Question 5

Explain the globalisation of western childhood?

Answer 5

Western views of childhood are being globalised as global humanitarian and welfare agencies have been imposed on the world. Such as campaigning against child labour or street kids

Question 6

Give evidence for historical differences in childhood.

Answer 6

Aries- investigated looked at paintings from different times
10-13th century- no idea of childhood, worked, became adults when they passed physical dependency, law made no distinction
13th century- modern view of childhood emerged, schools for the young, seen as creatures of god, growing distinction between clothing, by 18th century childcenteredness had emerged
20th century- we are obsessed with childhood and calls this the ‘century of the child’

Question 7

Why has childhood changed, 4 reasons?

Answer 7

Laws- restricting child labour, became economic assets to liabilities, introduction of compulsory schooling allowed poor kids to go to school and the leaving age allowed for longer dependency.
Children’s rights- parents have responsibilities, basic rights to health care ans protection from abuse, ect
Declining family size- lower infant mortality rates, motivation for parents to make greater financial and emotional investments into kids
Policies specific to children- minimum age laws.

Question 8

How has industrialisation affected childhood?

Answer 8

The shift from agriculture to factory production brought higher standards of living and welfare which lowered infant mortality rates. It is also key to the modern idea of childhood and the change of childrens status

Question 9

What is the march of progress and do they believe the position of children has improved?

Answer 9

Yes they believe it has improved.

March of progress- a view that believes childhood has gradually changed - they believe childhood in the past was a nightmare (mause), they were more likely to be killed/abandoned/sexually abused- Aries and Shorter : children have better healthcare, childcare, education and rights today.

Question 10

What is some evidence that childhood has improved?

Answer 10

Smaller family sizes so parents can afford more.
Family has become more child- centred, more financial and emotional investment.
Children are protected from harm by the law.
Society is child centred, more media and leisure for kids

Question 11

What is toxic childhood and how does it think childhood hasnt improved?

Answer 11

Palmer- things such as junkfood, computer games, social media, intensive marketing to children, long working hours of parents, growing emphasis on testing in education.
This has led to things such as obesity, early sexual experience, teenage pregnancies, self harm and drug alcohol abuse.

Question 12

What is conflict view and how does it disagree with childhood being improved?

Answer 12

Feminists and Marxists would argue that society is based on conflict between different social groups, such as social class and gender.
There are inequalities between children and also inequalities between children and adults.

Question 13

How does gender ethnicity and social class affect childhood?

Answer 13

Gender: Hillman- boys are more likely to be allowed to cross or cycle on roads ,use buses and go out after dark, Bronke- girls do more domestic labour, especially in lone parent, families, five times more than boys
Ethnicity: Brannen- asian parents are more likely to be strict towards their daughters. Bhatti- found a families honour (izzat) could be a restriction on the behaviour of girls.
Class: poor mothers, are more likely to have lost weight babies. This is linked to delayed physical and intellectual development. Disconnect to more risk of suffering from hyperactivity disorders and conduct disorders.

Question 14

How are children and adults unequal?

Answer 14

1) neglect and abuse- children are controlled through physical, neglect or physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
2) children’s space- there is a control over where children can go. There is an increase in close surveillance of children in public areas. There is a fear about road safety in stranger danger.
3) childrens time- I don’t control children’s daily routines this contrasts with Holmes, who found Samoans would never deemed as too young.
4) children’s bodies- I don’t have control over how children sit walk, run what day where the hairstyles and piercings they are also washed, fed and dressed.
5) children’s access to resources- children can’t work as they remain depend on an adult and lows obstruct them from earning.

Question 15

What is age patriarchy?

Answer 15

Gittins- describes the inequalities between adult as children as age patriarchy. Gittins makes the link and the family is dominated by the male. This can be shown in the form of domestic violence. Is argued that this patriarchy also oppresses the children.

Humphreys and thiara- found 50/200 women in their study left abusive relationships because they feared for their children’s safety.

Hockey and james- found children that experienced oppressive childhoods:
Act up- acted like adults by smoking, drinking, ect
Acting down- behaving like a child, baby talk

Question 16

What is the disappearance of childhood? And criticisms?

Answer 16

Postman argues that childhood is disappearing. This is through: trend towards giving children, the same rights as adults, disappearance of childhood games, similar clothing, children committing adult crimes.
Postman talks about the rise of television culture and the fall of print culture and the information heirarchy as a reason to disappear in childhood .

Ao3: opie- there is unsupervised childhood games and songs.

Question 17

What is information hierarchy?

Answer 17

Television and social media has blurred the distinction between adults and children’s information children have access to knowledge such as knowledge about sex, money, violence.

Question 18

How is childhood in post-modernity?

Answer 18

Jenks argues that childhood was a creation of modern society and children needed to be nurtured in the education system in order to produce effective adults. The decline in family relations has made it more important to look after children and this further develop the idea that children and vulnerable and need more surveillance over their lives.

Question 19

What is the new sociology of childhood?

Answer 19

This is the view that children play a major role in creating their own childhoods. Smart – says this approach aims to include the views of children while still living from childhood.
Mason and tipper- found children create their own definitions of who is family
Smart et al – found in the study of divorce. Children were actively involved in trying to make situations better.