Childhood

Question 1

What does Childhood mean

Answer 1

The early stage of humans physiological and psychological development, typically from, infancy to puberty.

Question 2

Childhood as a social construct
What does this mean?

Answer 2

This means they see childhood as something created by society.
There is no agreed age or time that childhood begins and ends, it varies from different cultures.

Wagg- childhood is socially constructed as there is no single universal childhood experience by all, so it isn’t natural.

Question 3

Childhood as a Social Construct-
What is The modern western notion of childhood and who speaks about it

Answer 3

Pilcher-
Sperataness- childhood is a separate distinctive stage of live from adulthood.
They have a separate status from adults through laws regulating what they do and what they’re forbidden to do.
There is also differences in dress, food, books, toys etc

Childhood= the ‘golden age’ of happiness and innocence. Their innocence is seen as vulnerability so they are protected from the outside world.

• children are now regarded as physically and psychologically immature and not yet competent to run their own lives.
  -they lack skills knowledge and experience which means they need to be protected for a period where they are nurtured and socialised into the norms and values of society before they enter the ‘adult world.’

Question 4

Childhood as a Social Construct-
Childhood in different cultures

Answer 4

Childhood is viewed differently across the whole world and they are treated differently in all cultures.
Benedict- there is less divide between the behaviour expected of children and adults this shows childhood is not a fixed universal thing but is socially constructed as it differs from culture to culture.

Eg in European countries the period of childhood is usually longer and in developing countries it’s much shorter, with come kids starting work as soon as they’re physically able. 150 million children are involved in child labour. There is also a large amount of children soldiers eg in Somalia.

Question 5

Childhood as a Social Construct-
What are three differences between western childhood and childhood in non-western cultures?

Answer 5

-Take responsibility at an early age- eg in Bolivia they take on responsibilities in the house from the age of around 5

-Less value is placed on children showing obedience to adults- adults shoulder expect children to blindly obey them. doing as you’re told by a grown-up is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child.

-children’s sexual behaviour is viewed differently- adults have an attitude of tolerance and amused interest towards children’s sexual explorations and activities.

Question 6

Childhood as a Social Construct-
Explain The globalisation of western childhood

Answer 6

Some sociologists believe the Western notions of childhood are being globalised. Eg a separate life stage in which kids are innocent, vulnerable, dependent and have no economic role.

This is shown to be globalised as there has been an increase in campaigns against child labour, concerns about homeless children, child soldiers etc.
This reflects western views about how childhood should be.
However these activities may be the norm in these cultures and important preparation for adult life.

Question 7

Childhood as a Social Construct-
Explain Historical changes in childhood and who suggests them

The position of children also changes overtime showing it’s socially constructed as it’s not a fixed stage.

Answer 7

Aries-
In the middle ages the idea of childhood didn’t exist, they were treated no differently from adults and we’re made to work as young as 7 years old.

-had the same rights and duties as adults, were punished the same in the legal system and we’re seen as economic assets rather than a focus of love and care. This is because:
1-High infant mortality rate- led to parents being neglectful and indifferent to their children.
2-Financial reasons- children had to work in order for families to survive

Question 8

Childhood as a Social Construct-
explain the reasons for changes in the position of Children
(4 reasons)

Answer 8

1- Laws- were introduced that banned kids from working in mines and factories excluding them from the real world of adult work and responsibilities.
Also laws for minimum ages for lots of activities eg sex (16), smoking has reinforced the idea that children are different from adults.

2- School- compulsory education up to 10 has extended the period of dependency.

3- Improvements in health- improved sanitation and diet led to a decrease in infant mortality rate which led to children becoming objects of love and care regarded as vulrabkt and in need of protection, rather than just economic assets

4-declining family size- have encouraged parents to make greater financial and emotional investments into their children.

Question 9

Childhood as a Social Construct-
What does aries mean by The modern cult of childhood

Answer 9

We are now in an era that is obsessed with childhood, Aries calls this ‘The century of the child’

Question 10

Childhood as a Social Construct-
Childhood in the same society

Answer 10

There are even differences in childhoods in the same society eg in Britain depending on your class you have a different experience of childhood.
27% of kids in Britain are defined as poor, poorer children are more likely to suffer from Ill health or disability and have fewer qualifications.

This again shows how childhood is socially constructed as the experience is different for everyone and it isn’t one set the universal stage.

Question 11

Evaluation on the March of progress view of childhood (that it has improved)

Answer 11

❌children are too protected and their rights are restricted
❌age patriarchy - adults have now made children dependent in order to maintain authority
❌ Palmer- childhood is toxic children are becoming obese, anxious and lacking social skills partially because if screen time.

Question 12

The future of childhood
Is childhood disappearing? YES - Who suggests this

Answer 12

Postman
The information hierarchy
-a division between adults, who can read and children, who can’t, giving adults power to keep knowledge like sex, money, death and other adult matters away from children.

However the internet has blurred these lines eg the media and internet which exposes children to the adult world, forcing them to grow up quicker. It also leads to the adultification of children, a blurring of lines between adults and children by destroying the information hierarchy causing a merge in tastes and style eg same shows, music, clothes.

Children are being deprived of a genuine childhood due to composure games, social media, junk food etc.

Question 13

The Future of Childhood
Evaluation of Postmans’s view of the disappearance of childhood

Answer 13

❌- some argue that rather than disappearing childhood is expanding and changing as society changes eg with the use of media kids will grow up quicker.
❌ Childhood is still distinct from adulthood fincnailly and culturally and the western concept of childhood being a protected phase of life us expanding globally, not disappearing but the opposite

Question 14

The Future of Childhood
Is childhood disappearing? NO and who speaks about this
Childhood in postmodernity

Answer 14

Jenks
Doesn’t believe childhood is disappearing does believe it’s changing
Childhood is a creation of modern society. Childhood us seen as preparation for individual to become a productive adult.
To achieve this children must be protected and nurtured by the family and education system that discipline and teach the child.

Childhood changes as society changes from modernity to post modernity.
in modern society- relations are more stable in postmodern society divorce is more common so relationships with kids become more important as a source of adult identity as they will still be a parent even after divorce. So adults become more protective and caring towards children. Therefore strengths the view that children are vulnerable so childhood remains speratemfrom adulthood.

Question 15

Has the position of childhood improved ?
Yes- The March of Progress view

Answer 15

Childhood is constantly improving the further back in history we go the worse childhood was. Eg neglect, dangerous work conditions, sexually abused, worse childcare etc.

Today’s childhood has a functional fit with society- that we need more people to be educated and so children do not start working until they’re older.
We now live in a child-centred society- kids are more valued, better cared for, protected, educated, better health and more rights.

Question 16

The March of progress view-
What is the child-centred family

Answer 16

Higher living standards and smaller family size mean parents can afford to provide for kids’ needs properly as there are fewer of them.
Children are no longer seen and not heard they’re now a vocal point of the family.
Parents invest a great deal into their children emotionally and financially.

Question 17

Evaluation of the March of progress view- that childhood is improving

Answer 17

❌Palmer- the toxic childhood. Children are becoming obese, anxious and lacking in social skills. She suggests this is partially due to the rapid increase in technology meaning more kids are staying inside and playing video games etc.

❌Uk youth has above average rates for obesity, self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse, early sexual experiences etc showing that childhood is becoming clouded with negativity and they’re not free to just be children anymore due to technological cultural changes.

❌ Gittens- age patriarchy- Children are too protected to the point their rights are restricted. This can be due to age patriarchy- where adults make children dependent in order to maintain authority.

Question 18

The conflict view- they criticise the match of progress view
Conflict theorist are Marxists and feminists
What do they believe

Answer 18

They believe the match of progress view ignores inequalities such as:

1- Inequalities among children
2- inequality between children and adults

Both in more detail –>

Question 19

Conflict view-
What are the inequalities among children
(3 inequalities to remember)

Answer 19

Gender inequalities- parents are often stricter with girls than boys. Boys are more likely to be able to go out unaccompanied and after dark.
This has led to a bedroom culture for girls where girls experience more of their childhood indoors whereas boys can go out and explore.
Girls also are expected to do more domestic labour 5x more than brothers and look after younger siblings restricting their own free time.

Class inequality- Marilyn - kids in poverty are more likely to have poor- diet, housing and therefore more health conditions they’re also more likely to experience abuse and neglect. More likely to have delayed intellectual and physical development.

Ethnic differences- black children more likely to be in care and grow up without dads. More likely to be in lower-income families. Asian parents more likely to be stricter especially with their girls.

Question 20

Conflict view-
What are the inequalities between children and adults and who speaks about it?
And how does it lead to abuse and neglect.

Answer 20

Firestone
The power of adults over children isn’t actually for care and protection but actually a form of control and authority. Eg protection from paid work = keeping kids dependent, powerless and subject to adult control.

This adult control can take extreme forms of physical neglect, physical, emotional and emotional abuse.

Question 21

Conflict view
Parents have control over 3 things of their children, what are they?

Answer 21

Space- surveillance over kids in public spaces

Time- daily routines eg when to wake up, sleep, eat, play etc and how quickly they grow up eg telling them they’re too young or old for this.

Bodies- what they wear, hairstyles, washed, fed, if they’re cuddled, kissed, smacked etc

Question 22

Summary

Answer 22

Childhood is a social construct- that varies from time, place and groups.
Middle ages (childhood didn’t exist)
post-modernity ( childhood isn’t disappearing but us changing eg divorce) modern cult of childhood (the century of the child)

Reasons for changes in the position of children.

Postman- the disappearance of childhood due to media destroying information hierarchy.

March of progress view - child-centred family, improvement in childhood
Conflict view- negative side of childhood eg toxic childhood, inequalities, control over children and age patriarchy.