Topic 2: Childhood

Question 1

Pilcher

Answer 1

1. Most important feature of the idea of childhood is ‘separateness’. This is the principle that children in our society occupy a different status from adults. This is seen in laws, the way they dress and products and services
2. Idea of childhood as a ‘golden age’ of happiness and innocence. This innocence is seen as vulnerable and in need of protection from dangers of the adults world, so need to be kept separate

Question 2

Criticism : Wagg

Answer 2

The idea of childhood is a separate stage of life and is linked to a specific age and is not found in all societies

Question 3

Benedict

Answer 3

There are 3 distinct differences between modern ‘western’ children and children from simpler, non-industrial societies:
1. They take earlier responsibility
2. They place less value on children showing obedience to adult authority
3.Children’s sexual behaviour may be viewed differently

Question 4

1. Holmes

Answer 4

Study of Samoan villages found that ‘too young’ was never given as a reason for not permitting a child to undertake a particular task.

Question 5

2. Firth

Answer 5

Among the Tikopia of the western Pacific, doing as you’re told by a grown-up is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child, not a right expected by the adult

Question 6

3. Malinowski

Answer 6

Among the Trobriand Islanders of the south-west pacific, adults took an attitude of ‘tolerance and amused interest’ towards children’s sexual behaviour

Question 7

Aries

Answer 7

In the middle ages (C10-C13) ‘the idea of childhood did not exist’. Children were not seen as having a different ‘nature’ from or needs from adults. They were seen as smaller adults and an economic asset.

Question 8

Shorter

Answer 8

High death rate encouraged indifferences and neglect, especially towards infants
eg. newborn babies were often named ‘it’ or after deceased siblings, with people forgetting how many children they had

Question 9

Aries History oCh

Answer 9

C13-C18 = There were public schools for rich children and churches for poor children , which saw them in need of protection and discipline
C18-C19 = Widespread child labour, where children as yong as 6 would be working 12-13 hours a day. There was a MC focus on children.
1833 9-13 yo 8 hrs p/d,13-18 12hrs
C20 = concept of child centredness and ‘cult of childhood’

Question 10

Criticism: Pollock

Answer 10

In the middle ages there was just a different notion of childhood, rather than it didn’t exist

Question 11

Aries CCS

Answer 11

Over time we have moved to a child-centred society, especially by the end of the 20th century

Question 12

Giddens

Answer 12

Agrees with this and say that by the end of the 20th century, there appeared to be democratic parenting where children have a say

Question 13

Postman

Answer 13

‘Childhood is disappearing at a dazzling speed’
- Points to a trend towards giving children the same rights as adults eg. there are now cases of children commiting ‘adult’ crimes (murder)
-This is all because of the rise of TV culture and fall of print culture
-During the MA, people were illiterate and speech was the only skill needed to enter the adult world .Children were able to enter adult society from an earoly age
‘Information hierarchy’
Allowed for the printed world to arise which created a division between children and adults , with children who can’t read and adults who can. This gave adults the power to keep knowledge about sex and money away from children. HOWEVER, nowadays the TV blurs division lines , destroying the information hierarchy. TV doesn’t require special skill so children can easily access it

Question 14

Criticism: Opie

Answer 14

Childhood isn’t disappearing. There is strong evidence of separate children’s culture, with the existence of unsupervised games, songs and rhymes

Question 15

Jenks

Answer 15

Childhood isn’t disappearing it’s changing. Agrees with Aries that childhood was a creation of modern society and an adult’s job is to prepare children for the future. HOWEVER, childhood is changing because of post-modernity. Postmodern adult relationships are unstable (eg. divorce more common) This generates a feeling of insecurity so relationships with children become more important , as they are a source of adult’s identity and stability.Adults are now therefore more fearful of children’s security

Question 16

De Mause

Answer 16

Says the ‘history of childhood is a nightmare from which we have only recently begun to awaken

Question 17

Aries and Shorter

Answer 17

Argue that today’s children are more valued, better cared for, protected and educated, enjoy better health and have more rights than those of previous generations.
This is seen in laws around child abuse and child labour,professionals and specialists for education, psychological and medical needs.
Better healthcare and higher standards of living mean babies have a higher rate of survival. For example, in 1900 the IMR was 154 per 1000 births , and today IMR is 4 per 1000.

Question 18

Palmer

Answer 18

Argues that rapid technological and cultural changes have damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development.
These changes range from junk food, computer games and intensive marketing for children, to the long hours worked by parents and the growing emphasis on testing in education.
She also refers to ‘electronic babysitters’ . This is the idea of IPADS and tablets that are given to children that teach them stuff like how to count and the alphabet that parents used to do before the growth of technology.
Concerns have also been expressed about the young people’s health, well-being and behaviour. For example, the UK has high rates of obesity, self-harm, drug/ alcohol misuse and early sexual experiences.

Question 19

Hillman

Answer 19

Boys are more likely to be allowed to cross or cycle roads , use buses, and go out after dark

Question 20

Brannen

Answer 20

Study of 15-16 year olds found Asian parents are more likely to be strict towards daughters

Question 21

Firestone and Holt

Answer 21

Argue that what seems to be protection is simply oppression
Eg. protection from paid work is not a benefit for children but a form of inequality
Controls over children’s space = children were told where to play. Children driven to school because of fears about road safety
Controls over children’s bodies = how they sit, walk, run and what they wear
Control over children’s access to resources = children have limited opportunity to earn money so they’re dependent on adults (Because of labour laws and compulsory schooling, child benefit goes to parent and pocket money may depend on ‘good behaviour’)

Question 22

Katz

Answer 22

rural Sudanese children roam freely for several km

Question 22

Gittins

Answer 22

Age Patriarchy describes inequalities between adults and children
Patriarchy of adult domination and child dependency, often male who is head of family who controls women and children
Evidence that children may find childhood oppressive comes from the fact that children try to resist the status of being a child

Question 23

Hockey and James

Answer 23

describe the strategy of ‘acting up’ eg. drinking, smoking
‘Acting down’ is also part of resisting adult control eg. ‘baby talk’
H & J conclude modern childhood is a status children want to escape

Question 24

Smart

Answer 24

new approach tries to include the views and experiences of children themselves - need to see child’s perspective