childhood Flashcards
(48 cards)
what is the modern western notion of childhood
childhood is special period of life
children fundamentally diff from adults
children = psychologically + physically immature
children have a lack of knowledge + experiences, in need of lengthy time of socialisation
what does Pilcher not about the features of the modern idea of childhood
distinct feature is separateness
childhood = clear + distinct
how is children being distinct emphasise in society
through legislation e.g laws regulation what children are allowed, required + forbidden to do
difference emphasise in dress
difference in toys, food, books
difference in media too
what is Waggs idea of childhoods definition
childhood is socially constructed it is what members of particular societies say it is. there is no universal childhood as childhood is not natural + should be distinguished only by biological immaturity
how are children in traditional societies regarded as different from modern western cultures in three ways according to this sociologist
children:
take responsibility at an early age - have duties
less value is placed on children showing obedience - children same as adults
children’s sexual behaviour is viewed differently - with tolerance + interest
what sociologists study shows that children have responsibilities at an early age
Punch study of rural Bolivia found children had responsibilities in home + community
Holmes - Study if Samoan village found too young is never an excuse even if handling dangerous / heavy tools
what sociologists study shows that adults do not expect respect from children
Firth - among Tikopia of Western pacific doing as told is a condensation to be granted by child, not a right to be expected by adult
children are innocent, dependent, vulnerable and should not have an economic role
western notion of childhood
how are western notions of childhood being globalised to those developing rural countries
- campaigns against child labour reflect what westerners ought childhood to be whereas such behaviour may be norm for that culture for preparation of adult life
arguably campaigns have little impact on position of children in developing countries
Aries historian findings of historical differences in childhood
Middle Ages from 10-13 centuries- childhood did not exist - children not diff in nature once they passed physical dependancy of infancy
children enter wider society straight by working, having duties + same skills as adults
+ suffered same punishments
seen in paintings
according to this sociologist how do high death rates encourage indifference and neglect
high death rates encourages neglect + indifference towards infants
not uncommon for baby to be named after dead sibling /babies to be referred as it / forgetting children count
according to Aries elements of the modern biting of childhood began to emerge from 13th century onwards, how
school - education + socialisation of the young
growing distinction in children’s + adults clothing.
by 18th i entry handbooks in childrearing were wildest accessible - sign of child centredness
who criticises Aries and why
Pollock argued it is not right to say childhood did not exist as Middle Ages society had a different notion of what childhood is from today
what are the reasons for the changes in the position of children
- law constructing labour + exclusion form paid labour
children are now a economic liability - introduction of compulsory schooling
1880 education extended dependency - child protection + welfare
1989 Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act - growth of idea of children’s rights
- decline in family size + lower infant mortality
children have rights rather than responsibilities e.g United Nation Convention established rights - children’s development knowledge
Donzelot - increased supervision + protection - law + policies that specify to children
no sex + smoking children doff to adults must not display same behaviour
what Act stops child cruelty
1989 - Prevention to Cruelty to Children Act
United Nations Convetion 1989
Children Act
how has the process of industrialised increased the modern notion of childhood
shift from agriculture to factory production
industry needs an educated workforce this requires compulsory schooling
higher standards of living + Welfare lead to lower infant mortality rates - changes the notion of childhood
who argues taht childhood is disappearing - how?
Postman - childhood disappearing at a dazzling speed
there’s a trend of giving children same rights as adults - unsupervised games, children’s clothing + children committing crimes like murder
what is the information hierarchy - how does it keep innocence and childhood
adults could keep information from children such as sex, money, violence, illness… as a secret so childhood is ignorance
how has the information hierarchy decreased over the years
from 19th century literacy has increased ,children can find the information from books + media
TV blurs lines of childhood- daotryinf infirmatin hierarchy
boundary between children + adult is broken down ignorance is replaced with knowledge + cynicism
who disagrees with Postman that childhood is not disappearing
Opie childhood not disappearing based on research into games, rhymes + songs conducted with her husband
there is still a separate children’s culture
postman’s over emphasised a single cause - TV also influenced childhood by songs and allat
who is a postmodernist who argues about the idea of childhood
jenks
which Postmodernist agrees with Aries that childhood is a creation of society
childhood seen as prep for individual to become a productive adult in future to achieve this, child must be nurtured + protected by family + education
however why does Jenks disagree with Postman that childhood is disappearing
relationships are becoming more unstable as divorces on the rise
this creates feeling of insecurity
relationships with children become more valued, like a sense of identity. parents become fearful for their children so increase protection from the dangers of the world
so surveillance is increasing, childhood is not disappearing- disagree with postman
what is evaluation do Jenks
evidence for both + against Jenks is limited. some evidence that parents see relationship with their child as more important than that of their partners
