Childhood Flashcards
(23 cards)
‘Sociologists see childhood as a social construct’
Childhood is created by society
- between societies: childhood may different depending on developed countries and developing countries
- within societies: children of rich families may experience a different childhood to those in poor families
- historically: different generations, children experienced child labour not long ago
The modern western notion of childhood
Pilcher argues that the most important part about childhood is separateness
Society separates children through
- law: smoking, drinking, driving etc..
- children products = educational books
- clothing
Cross cultural differences in childhood
Punch - children take responsibility at an early age e.g children in Bolivia working at 10pm, smoking, illegal work, being the breadwinner of the family etc..
Firth - found that children were treated equally and were not expected to show obedience towards adults
AO3 Analysis
Some sociologists argue that there are many charities and organisations are promoting western ideas of childhood
Historical differences in childhood
Aries - we don’t have an actual childhood and weren’t seen as any different from adults until we were passed the stage of physical dependency
Laws treated everyone the same, adults and children were treated the same
From 13th century onwards, to begin childhood schools were introduced specifically for the young. Children and adult clothing became different, they started ‘dressing their age’. Books on childrearing were created
Pollock argues that in the Middle Ages, society had a different ideas on what childhood was. This is because children didn’t have the same rights and experiences as they do today. Laws protecting children created to ensure their safety
Reasons for changes in the position of children
Laws protecting children and those that specifically apply to them
Compulsory schooling
Smaller family sizes
Industrialisation
Neil Postman - Reasons for ‘Childhood is disappearing at a dazzling speed’
Social media access - it’s becoming unregulated and uncensored. It spoils their innocence and affects their mental health
Dressing like adults
Committing adult crimes
Access to drugs - Britain has got the highest rate of drug abuse amongst teens in Europe
Why is childhood disappearing at a dazzling speed according to Neil Postman
This is because print culture is being replaced by television culture
- childhood has emerged and become a separate status since their is a separation in literacy
- now its been destroyed because of the distinction between childhood and TV being blurred by TV. All information is available to everyone of all ages
AO3: Opposing view on Postman’s ‘childhood is disappearing at a dazzling speed’
Opie says that childhood is still evident after studying children unsupervised games, rhymes and songs. It is valuable because it shows how different types on communications and technology can influence and structure someone’s childhood
- YouTube kids
- Spotify kids
- Netflix for kids
- restriction on screen time
Childhood in post modernity
Jenks - Childhood is changing
In PM society adult and child relationships are becoming unstable
Because of this, parents main concern is their relationship with their child. This leads to parents becoming more fearful for their child’s safety and wellbeing
Conflict view - inequalities amongst children
Hilman and Bonke - found that boys are allowed to go outside after dark and cross roads by themselves.
Girls do more domestic labour
Brannen - Asian parents are more strict with their daughters e.g higher grade standards
Inequalities amongst children - class
Poor mothers are more likely to give birth to low weight children so they’re more likely to be physically and intellectually delayed
Low born family children are more likely to die in infancy/childhood. More likely to be shorter in weight and fall behind in school
Children of unskilled manual workers are more likely to suffer from hyper activity and conduct disorders than children of professionals. More likely to have behavioural issues
Inequalities between children and adults
Firestone and Holt - Opposes MOP view. There are new forms of oppression and control. ‘Protection’ from child labour is not a benefit to children but an inequality, forcibly making children dependent on others that forces segregation
Inequalities between children and adults - Neglect and abuse
Victoria Climbe and Baby P - support the claim that there is a dark side to family as 43k children are subjected to child protection plans
20k calls per year from childline that theyve been sexually or physically abused
Neglected and abuse from family can lead to death and abuse can be hidden so well even CPS don’t notice it
Inequalities between children and adults - control over children’s space
There are many controls over children spaces because of safety reasons. In 1971 86% of children were allowed to go to and from school by themselves but it dropped it 25% in 2010
Differences in the control of children’s spaces in countries
Cindi Katz says how rural Sudanese children roam around freely within the village and several KM outside of it however, in the UK theres a high surveillance and not a lot of young children roam freely alone
Control over children’s time - How did Holmes’ study of Samoans criticise in the way which their time is controlled
A child being ‘too young’ is not an excuse for them to restricted of doing a task
Control over children’s bodies - how do parents control children’s bodies
By allowing somethings that the parents consent to like getting their child’s ears pierced and teaching their child not to do specific things like picking their nose
Control over children’s access to resources - 3 ways in which children’s access to resources is controlled
Labour laws and compulsory education exclude them from employment
State pays child benefit but it goes to the parent not the child
Pocket money is dependent on good behaviour and there’s restrictions on what it could be spent on
Has the position of childhood improved
Yes - laws have been put in place to protect children e.g smoking, driving, employment
No - more access to screen time: social media, TV, easier access to drugs and alcohol - exploited to sell drugs
Has the position of childhood improved - MOP view
Child-centred families
Higher living standards e.g health improvements and smaller family sizes meaning that parents give more time to their child
It is estimated that by the time a child reaches their 21st birthday, they would’ve cost $221k
Toxic childhood
Palmer - children in the UK are experiencing a ‘toxic childhood’
Points towards a cultural shift in the last 25 years
UK has an above average rates for obesity, self-harm, drug/alcohol abuse, violence, early sexual experiences and teenage pregnancy
Age patriarchy
Diana Gittins is a child liberationist and states that children are dominated by adults and uses the term ‘age patriarchy’
Hockey and James - children find this control oppressive act against it by ‘acting up’ or ‘acting down’
However critics argue that children need to be controlled as they cannot make rational decisions and look after themselves
The ‘new sociology of childhood’
Mayall - its dangerous to see children from an adultist POV
This view treats children as passive objects who have no part in creating their own childhood
Instead they see children as active agents who play a major role in childhood creation
Mason and Tipper - children are actively creating their own definitions of family - those who are close to them
Smart et al - in situations of divorce, children try to actively be involved and make the situation better for everyone
