Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Sociology A Level Families and Households > Childhood > Flashcards

Childhood Flashcards

The nature of childhood, and changes in the status of children in the family and society

1
Q

Many suggest that childhood is a social construction

A

meaning that the important characteristics of something (such as statistics, health, childhood old age or what is seen as deviant) are created and influenced by the attitudes, actions and interpretations of members of society, only existing because people define them as such

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Evidence suggesting that childhood is a social construction rather than a product of biological immaturity

A
  • the differing status, responsibilities and treatment of children in different contemporary cultures
  • the way the view of the nature of children and childhood, and the status, responsibilities and treatment of children have changed through history, and continue to change today
  • the differences between children’s status and responsibilities even in the same society
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Evidence of cross-cultural differences in childhood

A
  • International Labour Organisation suggests that 1 in 7 children is in child labour (28% in Sub-Saharan Africa)
  • Child Soldiers International suggested that 27 countries used child soldiers 2004-7
  • 2014 UNICEF report found 1 in 10 girls experience serious sexual violence
  • Girls Not Brides - 1 in 5 girls married before 18 (2023)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Aries’ (1973) suggestions on the development of childhood

A
  • in medieval times childhood was not a separate stage - seen as ‘little adults’
  • until the mid 1800s child labour was common, children faced the same legal punishments as adults
  • in the 1800s the father was the head of the family and children would see little of their parents and had much lower status in the family
  • social construction of childhood is linked to industrialisation - restrictions on child labour began in 1800s and children began to be seen as needing protection, as well as the introduction of compulsory education in 1880, making children dependent on adults
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Differences between childhoods in the same society

A
  • UK gov - 30% of children live in poverty (2023)
  • girls have different experiences from boys - Brannen (1996) and Bhatti (1999) found that Asian girls were far more restricted and controlled than their brothers
  • Margo et al (2006) emphasised that richer parents can afford constructive organised or educational activities (sports clubs, music lessons etc) contributing to their child’s development
  • many poor children are pushed to take jobs as soon as possible
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Causes of child-centeredness in the family

A
  • higher living standards
  • welfare state support for children
  • children’s legal rights
  • Minister for Children and Children’s Commissioner
  • paediatrics and emphasis on parenting skills
  • early years education and compulsory schooling
  • growing parental fears for child safety
  • smaller families
  • children’s consumer market
  • shorter working week
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Causes of child-centeredness in the family - shorter working week

A

in the 1800s people typically worked 70-80 hours a week but now full time work can be 35 hours or more, giving parents more time to spend with children

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Causes of child-centeredness in the family - children’s rights

A
  • social workers have the power to intervene om families to protect children (can remove them)
  • United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child (1989) sets the international standard for protecting and promoting children’s rights
  • Children Acts of 1989 and 2004 established children’s legal rights
  • now a Minister for Children and a Children’s Commissioner to protect and promote their interests
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Causes of child-centeredness in the family - paediatrics and emphasis on parenting skills

A
  • paediatrics and medicine for children developed a lot in the 1900s
  • range of research and books encouraging parenting skills to encourage full development with nurturing, protection and early education seen as important
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Causes of child-centeredness in the family - children’s consumer market and ‘pester power’ (Margo)

A
  • large businesses focus on the children consumer market eg toy companies, nike etc
  • Margo suggests more children take greater control over family spending and 7-11 year olds are an increasingly lucrative target audience for advertisers eager to harness their ‘pester power’
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Ways in which the position of childhood has improved

A
  • improved status
  • better diets
  • medical care
  • more rights
  • more facilities geared towards their needs
  • better protection and care
  • better education
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Ways in which the position of childhood has worsened

A
  • legal controls over children
  • unhappy children
  • child abuse
  • sibling abuse
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Ways in which the position of childhood has worsened - legal controls over children

A

many laws restricting children’s behaviour (mostly out of health and safety or well-being controls) eg
- have to be 16 to marry
- have to be 17 to drive
- legal drinking age of 18
- voting at 18
- can’t work until 14
- age of consent at 16
- buying medicines, cigarettes, lottery, energy drinks etc
- films and games with age restrictions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Ways in which the position of childhood has worsened - unhappy children

A
  • Womack (2011) - children in the UK among the unhappiest in the West
  • UNICEF - UK children more prone to bad health, school failures, bad relationships with family and friends, drinking, deprivation etc
  • NHS 2023 - 1 in 5 8-16 year olds had a mental disorder
  • 30% of UK children live in poverty
  • Margo - British children spend more time with peers and less with parents
  • Rees (2011) research for Children’s Society - 9% of 14-16 year olds run away overnight at least once a year
  • 2021 - 33,000 crimes were committed by minors (gov)
  • 2022 - 450 children in custody (gov)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Ways in which the position of childhood has worsened - child abuse

A
  • forms of abuse statistics CPP (Child Protection Plan) 2013: emotional (31%) , physical (12%), sexual (5%) and neglect (41%) - more than one was 11%
  • NSPCC 2011 - 1 in 5 children severely maltreated during childhood
  • NSPCC 2005 - 1/5 teenage girls hit by children
  • gov 2023 - 50,000 children under a child protection plan
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

On average, a child contacts Childline (free confidential counselling for children introduced in 1986)

A

every 45 seconds (can be about mental wellbeing, abuse etc)

17
Q

NSPCC (founded in 1884) stands for

A

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

18
Q

Sibling abuse

A
  • Womack (2010) - 31% of children said the were hit, kicked or pushed by a sibling ‘a lot’ or ‘quite a lot’
  • up to 40% of children frequently bullied by a sibling (physically or verbally) - NSPCC
  • Bowes et al (2014) found that children who said they had been bullied by a sibling were twice as likely to have depression, anxiety or self-harm at the age of 18
19
Q

Is childhood disappearing? - Postman (1994)

A
  • argued that the distinction between children and adults is disappearing
  • behaviour, language and attitudes becoming less distinguishable
  • children increasingly exposed to new media and adult themes
  • Cambridge University 2007 - primary school students concerned about climate change, pollution, class divide, terrorism, crime and violence
  • BBC 2011 found 11-16 year olds concerned about terrorism and climate change
20
Q

Is childhood disappearing? - Cunningham (2004)

A
  • argues that parental authority is undermined by children having money
  • 2023 average primary school child got £5 pocket money a week (The Times)
  • Margo - ‘pester power’ and children as consumers
21
Q

Is childhood disappearing? - Silva (1996)

A

suggests that the role of parents may be diminishing as the role of peers, teachers and media increases

22
Q

Is childhood disappearing? - Palmer (2007) ‘toxic childhood’

A
  • decrease of family time which is replaced by parents using technology, internet and junk food to keep children busy as parents are stressed and busy
  • this creates a ‘toxic childhood syndrome’ with potential future behavioural and social problems
  • Cambridge University 2007 - primary school children able to access unsuitable or harmful material online with parents having less control over phones and internet, so parents and teachers concerned about a ‘loss of childhood’
  • Specsavers 2023 - children 5-16 have an average of 6.3 hours of screen time per day (TV, social media, gaming etc)
23
Q

Is childhood disappearing? - Margo

A
  • highlights the decrease in the average of age of the first time having sexual intercourse
  • concern over the sexualisation of childhood, due to advertising and media (eg children dressing in a certain way, TV programmes etc)
  • in the 1950s average age of first sexual encounter was 20 for boys and 21 for girls but now half of Britons lose virginity between ages of 16 and 18

Sociology A Level Families and Households (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions