Childhood Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the modern western view on childhood?
- modern societies view childhood as a distinct protected phase of life > golden age of happiness and innocence
- children are seen as fundamentally different from adults > physically immature and not competent to run their own lives thus they need a protected period of nurturing & socialisation
- Pilcher > most important feature of modern childhood is separateness from adulthood
this emphasised through e.g. differences in dress, entertainment for children
Evaluation of the modern western view of childhood
- however this may be a middle class western ideal not experienced by all children e.g. w/c children may take up adult roles early
What are the cross cultural differences on the notion of childhood?
- Benedict argues that in simpler non-industrial societies children are treated differently from western counterparts
- e.g. they have more responsibility at home and at work > Punch > children at around 5 in Bolivia are expected to take responsibility
- less value is placed on obedience to authority > Firth > Tikopian doing as your told is granted by a child
- children’s sexual behaviour is often viewed differently > Malinowski > Trobriand islanders adults had amused interest to child’s sexual explorations
- thus behaviour expected by adults and children is less clearly separated
What is the globalised view of western childhood?
- some argue that western ideals of childhood (innocence, schooling etc.) are being exported globally through agencies
- e.g. campaigns against child labour
- thus the western view is spreading throughout the world
What are the historical differences in childhood?
- position of childhood differs over time
- Aries argues that in medieval Europe childhood didn’t exist as a separate stage > children were treated as mini adults with the same rights duties and skills as adults
- paintings from the time show children dressed similarly and working alongside the adults
- Shorter > also notes that parental attitudes towards children were different e.g. high child death rates encouraged indifference and neglect especially towards infants
- the modern cult of childhood began to emerge from the 13th century > schools began to specialise in education of the young, the church saw children as fragile, distinction between children’s and adults clothing
Evaluation of the historical view on childhood
- Aries may have exaggerated the change
- Pollock argues that that is it is more correct to say that in the Middle ages society simply had a different notion of childhood
What does postman believe about the future of childhood?
- argues that childhood is disappearing at a dazzling speed and that children are becoming more like adults
- for postman this is as a result of television culture replacing print culture > in print culture children lacked the literacy skills needed to access information so adults could keep knowledge about sex, violence etc. secret > creating a informational hierarchy
- however, the television culture makes information readily available to adults and children > resulting in the boundaries between childhood & adulthood being broken down & adult authority is weakened e.g. similar rights, clothing, committing the same crimes etc.
Evaluation of Postman on the future of childhood
- children still occupy a distinct status in law and western society e.g. age restrictions and compulsory schooling > complete disappearance is exaggerated
- Jenks argue that childhood is not disappearing but changing as a result of postmodernity
- Opie disagrees, arguing that childhood culture still exists as shown in children’s games, songs and traditions
What is Jenks view on the future of childhood?
- argues that in modernity childhood was a preparation for adulthood > children were seen as vulnerable and needed protection
- in postmodernity due to the rising uncertainty (higher divorce rates) parents become more anxious about children’s well being > thus childhood becomes a source of adult identity and emotional stability
- leads to greater surveillance and regulation over children’s lives > means childhood is not disappearing
Evaluation of Jenks view on the future of childhood
- he overgeneralises the experience of childhood despite diversity in family structures, class and cultures e.g. lone parents, ethnic groups etc.
- ignores childhood variation globally
What two different views are there on whether the position of childhood has improved?
- march of progress view
- conflict view
What does the march of progress view argue about the improvement of childhood?
- Aries and Shorter argue that children’s position has steadily improved over time, they claim that :
- children are more valued and protected by laws (e.g. child labour laws), better cared for due to advances in medical knowledges, higher living standards
- families have become increasingly child centered > cost 227,000 by 21 for a child’s rearing, given more leisure opportunities
Evaluation of the March of progress view
- Palmer argues that children experience a toxic childhood > childhood is deteriorating due to technological changes (junk food, computer games, testing etc.) and declining mental health
- conflict sociologists such as Marxists and feminists > argue it ignores persistent inequalities >
- improvements may only apply to middle class children
What do conflict theories argue about the improvement of childhood?
Marxists and feminists argue that the MoP view is over generalised as ignore inequalities among children and between children and adults
- inequalities among > gender differences= Bonke > girls are expected to do more housework
ethnic differences = Brannen > Asian parents are more likely to be stricter towards daughters than sons (idea of family honour)
class differences = poorer children experience worse health, education and care
- inequalities between > Child liberationists such as Firestone argue that extensive care & protection are just new forms of oppression e.g. being banned from paid work is a form of inequality subjecting them to greater adult control
What is Gittins view on childhood?
- she argues that their is a age patriarchy of adult domination that keeps children subordinate e.g. adults exercise control over children’s time (bedtimes), space (where they can go) and bodies (what they can wear)
- adult control may also lead to physical, sexual and emotional abuse
- evidence that children view childhood as repressive comes from the strategies they use to resist the status of a child
- Hockey > may act older e.g. smoking or behave younger
Evaluation of the conflict view
- ignores how adults may use their power to benefit children e.g. passing laws against child abuse > thus some adult control is needed to safeguard children’s interests
- present children as passive victims ignoring their agency > new sociology of childhood
