Childhood

Question 1

How is childhood arguably a social consrtuction?

Answer 1

It is created and defined within the society it is in.
-notion may be different in other cultures

Question 2

What does Pilcher argue about the modern notion of childhood?

Answer 2

-Childhood is seen as a distinct and seperate stage from adulthood that needs protecting (seperateness)

Question 3

Give examples to support how childhood be seen as a separate stage from adulthood?

Answer 3

-Child protection laws; what children can and cant do
-Differences in dress
-Childrens toys, books, products

Question 4

What is meant by the golden age of childhood?

Answer 4

Children seen as innocent and thus vulnerable, meaning they need protection
-Children thus ‘quarantined’ in the family sphere

Question 5

How does Wagg criticise the seperateness of western notions of childhood

Answer 5

The seperatism of childhood in western societies is not universal,Chuldhood is sociallly constructed

Question 6

How does Punch’s study support the cross cultural differences in childhood?

Answer 6

Bolivia, children take on work responsibility from 5 years

Question 7

How do other studies support the cross cultural differences in childhood?

Answer 7

Samoan village, no such thing as too young for work (Holmes)
-less value on obedience to adults; not a right but a choice (Firth)
-sexual behaviour seen as amusing(Malinowski)

Question 8

How has the notion of childhood from a western perspective been globalised?

Answer 8

Campaigns against child labour impose western views of how childhood should be, onto developing countries

Question 9

How does Aries support the idea of historical differences in childhood?

Answer 9

There was no childhood in middle ages.
-Children were ‘mini adults’ as soon as they were weaned
-worked from an early age
-faced same punishments, had same rights and duties as adults

Question 10

Why did the notion of childhood change after the 13th century?

Answer 10

Creation of ‘modern cult of childhood’ due to;
-childrearing books
-Schools began to specialise in the education of the young due to church influence thats saw children as fragile ‘creatures of God’ that needed to be protected from worldly evils

Question 11

How can Aries’ view of historical childhood be challenged?

Answer 11

Pollock; would argue that it is innacurate to say there was no childhood, but rather there was a different notion of childhood

Question 12

According to Shorter, why did the parental attitudes towards children change from middle ages to now?

Answer 12

Higher death rates encouraged neglect, parents more likely to give child name of dead sibling vs now where less death so children valued more

Question 13

Why has the position of children changed? (3 points)

Answer 13

-Child protection laws; children economic liability
-Compulsary schooling; extended dependency
-Declining family size, lower infant mortality; quality over quantity

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Question 14

What does Postman argue about the future of childhood?

Answer 14

-Childhood is dissapearing at a dazzling speed
-similarities in clothing, children commiting adult crimes e.g Jon Venabales

Question 15

How has the information heirarchy led to the dissapearance of childhood according to Postman?

Answer 15

Move from print culture where children’s lack of literacy skills kept them innocent, to television culture where adult themes are available to both ages
-Boundary between childhood and adulthood weakened

Question 16

How can you critisice Postmans idea that childhood is dissapearing?

Answer 16

Opie- Shared childrens culture still exists e.g in the form of games, songs,jokes etc.
-Could be argued western view of childhood is infact spreading e.g due to globalisation

Question 17

What is jenks view of childhood?

Answer 17

In postmodern society, childhood is not dissapearing but changing due to societal changes e.g divorce which create insecurity
- Adults rely on chilftrn for last refugee in insecurity as their relationships are permenant and stable
-thus children are watched more closely to protect them from possible harms e.g child abuse

Question 18

What is the march of progress view of childhood? Give examples

Answer 18

Children are more valued,protected and educated, the quality of childhood is gradually increasing (Aries and Shorter)
e.g laws against child abuse/labour
-better healthcare decreasing infant mortality

Question 19

how have smaller family impacted childhood?

Answer 19

Led to child centeredness as more money can be allocated to the child so parenta can afford yo provide for their childs needs

Question 20

What is Palmer’s view on childhood?

Answer 20

-Technical and cultural changes have damaged child development e.g junk food, computer games, increased testing in education

Question 21

what support is there for the idea of toxic childhood?

Answer 21

UNICEF found that the Uk was ranked 21/36 for child-wellbeing in 2024
-High levels of obesity,self harm, drug abuse when comparing Uk internationally

Question 22

How do conflict theorists such as feminists criticise the march of progress view

Answer 22

Ignores gender differences in childhood
- Boys have more freedom at younger age e.g go out dark unaccompanied
-Girls do more housework

Question 23

According to conflict theorists, how can the march of progress view be criticised by focusing on ethnic differences

Answer 23

Bhatti- asian families are more strict on children due to family honour, particularly on girls

Question 24

According to conflict theorists, how can the march of progress view be criticised by focusing on how class inequalities affect the experience of childhood?

Answer 24

Poor children more likely to die in infancy or have delayed physical and intellectual development

Question 25

In what ways are children controlled in society

Answer 25

-control over space e.g child/no child zones -control over time; meals,school -control over access to resources; poorly paid parttime jobs control over bodies; hairsytles, smacking

Question 26

What is the age patriarchy? (Gittens)

Answer 26

Adults dominate and control children by restricting freedom and controlling their space, time, access to resources and controlling their bodies

Question 27

In what ways do children resist the age patriarchy

Answer 27

-May resist status of child by acting-up e.g acting older by smoking, drinking etc or acting down e.g baby talk Hockey and james argue that this shows modern childhood is something most children want to escape

Question 28

How can Child liberationists suchas Gittens be criticised

Answer 28

-Some would argue children are controlled out of care not oppression -

Question 29

What is the new sociology of childhood?

Answer 29

-Seeing childhood as socially constructed often means we see children as passive puppets -They argue children are active agents that create their own childhood e.g -Tipper; choosing own family -Smart;children actively involved in divorce

Question 30

What research methods would those who believe in the new sociology of childhood use

Answer 30

Unstructured interviews as it allows you to gain understanding of the multitude of childhoods in society e.g CAGED differnces -Whilst also liberating children to give their point of view (supported by child liberationists)