Topic 2 Childhood Flashcards
The social construction of childhood
Cross –cultural evidence: Raymond Firth, 1963 in his study of the pacific island of Tikopi, found children conducted dangerous tasks with sharp tools and fished in the open sea; they did these tasks when it was felt they were ready to do them.
Phillipe Aries - Childhood did not exist in medieval Europe
In the 16th century, the upper classes sent their children to be educated but even during the Industrial Revolution, child labour was widespread (children worked in coal mines or factories).
In the 19th century, state education became compulsory; children were separated from adult settings and were given separate legal status.
However, Aries argument can be criticised as he may overstate the case that childhood did not exist before the 19th century.
Afterall, in medieval Europe, there were laws stopping marriage for the under 12s so children did receive some protection even then.
Images of childhood: Rogers
identifies two images of childhood in the 20th century:
The welfare view that children must be protected from violence and the other that children must be restrained/regulated (the control view’).
The ‘welfare view’ forms the basis of social policy: we have the Children’s’ Act 1989 – where the child’s welfare is the court’s paramount consideration.
The ‘control view’ is seen in education policy where children’s education is controlled by government who dictate what children must learn through the National Curriculum.
Idea of childhood is socially constructed; it changes over time rather being set in stone.
‘The disappearance of childhood’ - Neil Postman
A period of time called childhood is only possible if children can be separated from the adult world.
However, the media is closing the boundaries between the child and adult world.
Children are a major economic force in Western societies and they are targeted by advertisers; their tastes/preferences for toys, games, mobile phones have an effect on which products succeed and fail.
They make choices, have purchasing power. Perhaps, childhood has become more complex; they are both dependent on their parents but they are also independent in some ways.
Pitcher Life course
This is a timetable of behaviours appropriate to different stages but attitudes towards childhood have changed as all age groupings are a social construct and change over time.
Jenks - not a loss of childhood
Disagrees with postman
he says there is a concern about this loss of innocence and anti-social behaviour but children are strictly regulated, must attend school, can’t drink alcohol, or have sex under 16 or vote.
Prout - poor countries
In poor countries, children still need to work and there is a lack of education.
Shorter - romantic love
His study showed that the romantic idea of love developed and this made children seem more important. In addition, the idea of motherhood stressed the idea of need for nurture and care.
