Childhood Flashcards
(80 cards)
What is meant by social construction
-Something that is not a naturally occurring phenomena in society but is created by societies
E.G gender, social norms, laws, crimes, and in this case, childhood
Name two sociologists who argue that childhood is not socially constructed (biological explanation)
-Pilcher (1995)
-James and Sprout (1997)
How does Pilcher (1995) argue that childhood is not a social construct
Pilcher argues that childhood is a clear and distinct life stage, separate from adulthood, shown through:
Social separateness:
• Different spaces for children (e.g., playgrounds, schools).
• Special treasures (toys, children’s items).
• Specific rules for children.
Physical separateness:
• Children’s physical immaturity (bodies and abilities are not fully developed).
Psychological separateness:
• Differences in brain development.
This perspective implies that childhood is not socially constructed, but biologically and socially distinct.
How do James and Sprout (1997) argue that childhood is not a social construct
-Children are seen as simple and incomplete because they haven’t yet developed the complex and sophisticated ways of acting and interacting like adults. Children are viewed as fragile and amoral (without strong morals yet), and they see the world in black and white terms. In contrast, adults are seen as complex and moral, capable of understanding the complexity and nuances of situations.
This framework highlights how society often positions childhood as a time of immaturity compared to adulthood.
Two sociologists that argue that childhood is socially constructed
-Wagg
-Aries
What is meant by historical relativity
-Childhood is socially constructed and has varied greatly across different eras and societies. What people consider to be “normal” or “appropriate” for children—such as their roles, responsibilities, rights, and behaviors—changes depending on historical circumstances.
According to Aries what was childhood like in the Middle Ages
-Aries argues that in the Middle Ages the idea of childhood did not even exist. Children were seen as ‘mini adults’ and there was no clear distinction between the two other than the fact that children were smaller. For example, children and adults wore the same clothes, went to work, children didn’t have toys (no separate experiences) etc.
-Furthermore, children were seen as ‘economic assets’ as the family was a unit of production and so families often had large family sizes with any children.
-There were also high infant mortality rates and so mothers were encouraged not to become too attached to their children.
According to Aries (1960) what was childhood like during the Industrial era
-There was little change from the medieval too the industrial era in regard to the position of childhood
-There was still little difference between adult and child culture. Children were still viewed as economic assets, with some being sent to work as early as the age of 7. For example, cotton picking, chimney sweeping etc were common jobs for children as they were smaller so could fit under machines and inside chimneys. However,middle class children now tended to attend education rather than go to work.
(Children exploited)
According to Aries how has childhood improved to be how it is today
-In todays society childhood is seen as a special and unique time in life shaped by innocence and the need to be protected
-Children and adults now have separate culture, wearing different clothes, for example, character clothing for children, and also separate socialising spaces, for sample, the pub for adults, and playgrounds for children.
-Childhood has now also been prolonged due to the delay of children entering work and instead making education compulsory until the age of 18. This has meant that child innocence is preserved and children are not forced to grow up too quickly as they are dependent on their parents for longer.
What is meant by ‘economic assets’ (Aries)
-Children were viewed as advantageous for making money. Family often use them for work to benefit from their income .
How did Aries research historical experiences of childhood
-Through historical paintings
Evidence that supports Aries view that childhood did not exist
-Children were married as early as age 12
-Punishments were the same for adults and children (no parental responsibility)
-During the industrial era children were exploited by work places and often used for jobs like cotton picking and chimney sweeping, which were often very dangerous (not protected)
According to the ILO (2013) there were _______ child workers in 2012
-168 million
According to Wyness (2012), in Bangladesh children as young as ____ work as sex workers using forged papers
11 or 12
What is the March of progress view of childhood
-Argues that childhood has significantly improved overtime. Children today are more valued, protected, nurtured than previous generations due to things like legal protections, education and better healthcare.
Who supports the March of Progress view of childhood
Aries
Social policies that have contributed to improving the position of childhood (evidence)
-The Children’s Act (1989, 2004)
-The Every Child Matters Agenda (2003)
-The Marriage and Civil Partnership Act (2022)
-9PM Watershed
-Social media age 12+
-Legal driving age 17+
-Age of Criminal responsibility 10+
-Legal age of consent 16+
-Legal age of busting alcohol and nicotine 18+
Children’s Act (1989, 2004)
-Established legal rights for children, prioritising their welfare in family courts and child protection services. Also defines parental responsibility rather than rights
The Every Child Matters Agenda (2003)
-Aimed to ensure children were healthy, safe and achieving their potential
The Marriage and Civil Partnership Act 2022
-Raised the minimum legal age of marriage form 16 to 18 (prolonging innocence and childhood/ parental dependency )
The 9PM Watershed
-Banning of adult themes being shown on the television before 9PM
E.G violence, guns, strong language, sex etc
Limitation of the 9PM watershed
-New technology such as ‘recording’ on television enables children to still have access to these restrictions
-Videogames such as GTA, exposes children to violence and adult themes
However, Netflix etc Parental controls
