childhood Flashcards
Pilcher (1995)
Childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life stage, and children in out society occupy a separate status from adults
Benedict (1934)
argues that children in simpler, non-industrial societies are treated differently from modern Western societies in 3 ways:
- They take responsibility at an early age
- less value is placed in children showing obedience
- Children’s sexual behaviour is viewed differently
Punch (2001)
Children in non-industrial societies take responsibility at an early age. in non industrial societies
An example is once children are about 5 years old, they are expected to take work responsibilities in the home and in the community. Tasks are taken on without question or hesitation
Firth (1970)
Less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority in non industrial societies
An example is found that among the Tikapia of the western pacific, doing as you are told by a grown-up is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child, not a right to be expected by the adult
Malinowski (1967)
Children’s sexual behaviour is viewed differently in non-industrial societies
An example is found that adults took an attitude of ‘tolerance and amused interest’ towards children’s sexual explorations and activities
Aries (1960)
suggests that in the Middle Ages (from the 10th to the 13th centuries) ‘the idea of childhood did not exist’. He uses evidence from artwork to support this
argued childhood began to emerge from the 13th century onwards.
This was evident as:
1) Schools (which previously adults had also attended)
2) Growing distinction between children’s and adult clothing
3) By the 18th century, handbooks on childbearing were widely available
Shorter (1975)
Childhood in middle ages
High death rates encourages indifference and neglect, especially towards infants e.g. not uncommon for parents to give a new-born baby a name of a recently dead sibling and refer to the baby as it, or forget how many children they had
Jacques Donzelot (1977)
changes in position of children
observes how theories of child development that began to appear from the 19th century stressed that children need supervision and protection
Postman
Postman argues childhood is ‘disappearing at dazzling speed’ This is because of technology, jobs, committing adult crime e.g. James Bulger (10 years held accountable by law. it used to be 14)
Children are also becoming more like adults. This is because we are giving children and adults the same rights. There is also a growing similarity of adults and children’s tastes and styles
Postman argues that the disappearance of childhood is also because of the fall of print culture, and its replacement with television culture. Childhood emerged as a separate status along with mass literacy from the 19th century on. Postman argued the printed word printed word creates an information hierarchy - adults can read, children cannot
opie (evaluation for postman)
Argues that childhood is not disappearing
Valuable? - It shows different types of communication technology such as print and television, can influence the way in which childhood is constructed
Over-emphasises what?
A single cause-television - at the expense of other trackers that have influences the development of childhood
Jenks
Jenks is a post modernist who believes that childhood is not disappearing but it is changing. He agrees with Aries that childhood is a creation of modern society based on preparation for adulthood, nurture, protection and control. However, childhood is undergoing change as society moves from modernity to postmodernity. Fast social change leads to…
unstable relationships, an increasing divorce rate and feelings of insecurity. So jenks suggests
Children become more important as a source of adults identity and stability, and they then become more fearful for their children’s welfare, believing they must protect them from the dangers of society
Aries and Shorter
Aries and Shorter have a march of progress view on the position of children. Over the past few centuries, the position of children in western societies has been steadily improving and today is better than it has ever been
Today, children are more valued, better cared for, protected, and educated, enjoy better health, and have more rights than those of previous generations.
For example Children today are protected from harm and exploitation by laws against child abuse and child labour and Babies have a much better chance of survival now than a century ago
By the time a child reaches their 21st birthday, they will have cost their parents over £227,000.March of progress sociologists argue that the family has become child-centred, children are the focal point of the family.
Postman
childhood is ‘disappearing at a dazzling speed’ This is due to technology, jobs, committing adult crime. e.g. James Bulger. 10 years old held accountable by law (used to be 14)
He also argues that the disappearance of childhood is due to the fall of print culture and its replacement by television culture. Postman said that printed words creates an information hierarchy, children cannot. Television blurs the distinction between childhood and adulthood by destroying the information hierarchy.
Evaluation of postman
Opie argues that childhood is not disappearing. Postman overemphasises a single cause - television. There are other influences for the development of childhood! However, postman’s ideas are still valuable, he shows that information and technology can influence the way in which childhood is constructed
Jenks
He does not believe childhood is disappearing but that it is changing. Agrees with Aries that childhood is a creation of modern society based on preparation for adulthood, nurture, protection and control.
However, he says that childhood is undergoing change as society moves from modernity to postmodernity. Fast social change leads to unstable relationships, an increasing divorce rate and feelings of insecurity. Children therefore become more important as a source of adults identity and stability, and they then become more fearful for their children’s welfare, believing they must protect them from the dangers of society