Childhood

Question 1

Parson’s feels that the family will perform functions based on the society which it is in, what does he mean by different societies?

Answer 1

Modern industrial society and pre industrial society

Question 2

What is the opposite to nuclear families?

Answer 2

Extended family

Question 3

What is the opposite to an extended family?

Answer 3

Nuclear family

Question 4

Explain what Parsons view is on the modern industrial society?

Answer 4

The nuclear family fits the needs of industrial society and is the dominant family type

Question 5

Explain Parson’s view of the pre-industrial society?

Answer 5

Extended family fits the needs of this society best

Question 6

Why did it change the modern industrial society meant that the nuclear family fit best?

Answer 6

Emerging industrial society had different needs from pre industrial society and the family had to adapt to these needs

Question 7

What were the two needs that Parson saw as the essential needs for a modern industrial society?

Answer 7

Geographically mobile

Socially mobile workforce

Question 8

What is meant by a geographically mobile workforce?

Answer 8

In modern society, industries constantly began and declined in different parts of the world, which required people to move to where the jobs were, resulting in nuclear family’s being dominant because it was easier for them compared to extended family’s

Question 9

What is meant by a socially mobile workforce?

Answer 9

In a modern society, an individuals status is achieved by their own efforts and abilities, however, it is no longer ascribed by their social and family background. This means children are now encouraged to move out when they get a good job and build their own nuclear family; making social mobility possible

Question 10

What does Parson mean by Loss of Functions?

Answer 10

Extended family was a multi-functional unit, but when society industrialises, the extended family loses many of its functions and it becomes just a function for consumption. As a result, the modern nuclear family comes to specialise in performing two essential functions

Question 11

What are the two essential functions that Parsons claims the nuclear family performs?

Answer 11

The primary socialisation of children

The stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 12

What does Parson mean by the primary socialisation of children?

Answer 12

Equipping children with the basic skills and society values and norms in order for them to integrate within society successfully

Question 13

What does Parson mean by the stabilisation of adult personalities?

Answer 13

The family is a place where adults can relax and release tensions, enabling them to returns to work feeling refreshed, this is functional for the efficiency of the economy

Question 14

Give one peice of evidence against parsons views?

Answer 14

Young and Willmott claim that in the pre industrial society, there were also nuclear families instead of extended family’s, like Parson suggests

Question 15

Give one piece of evidence against Parson’s views

Answer 15

Peter Laslett carried out a study of English households from 1564 to 1821 and found that famalies were mostly always nuclear in the pre industrial society, this was a combination of late childbearing and short life expectancy meant that grandparents weren’t likely to be alive after the first born child

Question 16

Give one piece of evidence against Parson’s Theory?

Answer 16

Young and Willmott argue that the hardship of the early industrial period gave rise the the ‘mum-centred’ working class extended family

Question 17

What is meant by the ‘social construction of childhood’ ?

Answer 17

Refers to any idea or understanding that people have created or defined by the social environment, in which they live. These ideas can vary from different cultures, time, social context etc

Question 18

What do sociologists believe about the childhood?

Answer 18

It is a notion which privileged western societies such as the UK have created and developed

Question 19

What evidence is there to suggest that childhood is socially constructed?

Answer 19

Pre- industrialisation and during industrialisation

Question 20

Explain ‘pre-industrialisation’ and how it is connected to the sociology of childhood?

Answer 20

Aries thought that children we ‘mini adults’ in this period of time, they did exactly the same jobs as adults. Children were treated in exactly the same way in terms of laws.
Due to infant mortality rates, parents were not able to gain emotional connections with their children, therefore they were regarded as economic assets that would bring in income

Question 21

Explain what is meant by ‘during industrialisation’ in terms of how it is connected to the childhood?

Answer 21

A ‘childhood’ began to emerge from the 13th century
It became a fully developed term in modern industrialisation
The childhood emerged because education became prevalent, focusing on teaching children rather than adults
Specialised clothing for children also became popular from the 17th century

Question 22

What are the opinions of sociologists in terms of childhood in the 20th century?

Answer 22

Sociologists such as Cunningham believe that Britain has turned into a ‘child-centred’ society

Question 23

How has decline in infant mortality rates led to the ‘child-centred’ childhood?

Answer 23

Advanced medication
Better contraception
These two factors have meant parents can have control over the amount of children they have and gain emotional connections with them.

Question 24

How has the introduction of laws led to the ‘child-centred’ childhood?

Answer 24

Children are made to go to school until a certain age
The age they’re able to get a job has increased as time has gone on
The age they can leave school has increased
The removal of physical punishment via teachers and parents
All these have meant children have more rights and are more cared for

Question 25

How has the introduction of child protection laws led to a child-centred childhood?

Answer 25

Human rights act Made to go to school Protection from emotional and physical abuse Less neglect and abondonment

Question 26

How has the development of rights for children led to the ‘child-centred’ childhood?

Answer 26

Human rights act Right to NHS and healthcare Right to education

Question 27

What factors in terms of growing interest in children’s health and development has led to a ‘child-centred’ childhood?

Answer 27

Psychologists started to discover how childrens brains aren’t as developed as adults We have a better understanding of how to be better parents, teachers and schools for the development of children

Question 28

What factors in terms of age restriction legislation has led to the development of a ‘child-centred’ childhood?

Answer 28

Age you can get married, have sex, smoke and drive has increased

Question 29

Explain how the march of progress feel about the childhood?

Answer 29

They believe the social status of children in the West has improved since the beginning of the 20th century

Question 30

‘Children today are protected from harm and exploitation, children are more valued, better cared for, protected and educated, enjoy better health and have more rights that previous children’ Which sociologists claim this?

Answer 30

March of progress

Question 31

Do march of progress disagree with the claim that the childhood is more ‘child-centred’ now?

Answer 31

No, they agree. They believe children are no longer ‘seen and not heard’ because of higher living standards and less deaths meaning parents can invest a lot in their children in regards to financially and emotionally

Question 32

How do the conflict view criticise the march of progress view?

Answer 32

They claim that the march of progress view ignores the inequalities that continue to exist between children today

Question 33

State one criticism of the march of progress?

Answer 33

It fails to explain the very serious and dark side to family life, that some children experience neglect and abuse

Question 34

State one criticism of the march of progress?

Answer 34

It ignores that there have been changed which have occurred in society over time, things that have brought harm to children, like the rise in mental health due to technology and the media culture

Question 35

Which two sociologists are conflict sociologists?

Answer 35

Marxists and feminists

Question 36

What is the view of conflict sociologists?

Answer 36

They feel that the march of progress view focus too heavily on the improvements which have occurred for white, middle class children. They feel that their experiences are not always positive. They also claim particular social factors may impact upon the quality of their childhood experience

Question 37

What factors do conflict sociologists believe impact upon the quality of children’s childhood experience?

Answer 37

Where they live in the world Social class background Ethnic or religious backgrounds The gender of the child

Question 38

How does where a child lives in the world impact upon the child’s childhood experience?

Answer 38

90% of the worlds low birth weight babies are born in developing countries

Question 39

How does social class background effect the quality of a child’s childhood?

Answer 39

Children born into poor families are more likely to die in infancy, to suffer longstanding illnesses or fall behind at school

Question 40

How does a child’s ethnic or religious background impact upon their childhood experience?

Answer 40

Asian parents are often more stricter on females due to izzat

Question 41

How does a child’s gender impact on their experience of childhood?

Answer 41

Boys get more freedom, girls do more domestic labour

Question 42

Which view argues that there are major inequalities in power between adults and children?

Answer 42

Conflict view

Question 43

List the problems that the conflict view claims to be as a result of adults abusing their power over children?

Answer 43

``` Neglect and abuse Control over children’s space Control over children’s time Control over children’s bodies Control over children’s resources ```

Question 44

Explain how neglect and abuse has been the result of adults abusing their power over children?

Answer 44

20,000 calls to childline regarding physical and sexual abuse r

Question 45

Explain how control over children’s space has been the result from adults abusing their power over children?

Answer 45

Increased surveillance of child in public/private

Question 46

Explain how control over children’s time has been a result of adults abusing their power over children?

Answer 46

Daily routines are controlled and the speed at which they grow up

Question 47

Explain how control over children’s bodies has been a result of adults abusing their power over children

Answer 47

The ways in which children sit, walk, clothed and appear, also control over them touching themselves

Question 48

Explain how control over children’s resources has been a result of adults abusing their power over children?

Answer 48

Children only have a limited access to work/money

Question 49

Who claims age patriarchy occurs?

Answer 49

Gittins

Question 50

What is age patriarchy?

Answer 50

Where there is an inbalance between adults and children (particularly implemented by men) which results in women getting controlled and oppressed (mainly children- fathers over daughters) many women leave their partners as they feel for the safety of their children

Question 51

Who states the acting up and acting down theories?

Answer 51

Hockey and James

Question 52

When many children act up or down?

Answer 52

When they feel they’re being oppressed by adults

Question 53

Describe what acting up is?

Answer 53

Engaging in more ‘adult’ behaviours like drinking, having sex, smoking and swearing

Question 54

Describe what acting down is?

Answer 54

Engaging in regressive, immature behaviours like crying, tantrums and door slamming

Question 55

What can be criticised of the conflict view?

Answer 55

Some adult control over children’s lives is justified to keep a child protected Just because inequalities exist between children according to socio-economic backgrounds, it doesnt mean the differences are bad

Question 56

The ‘disappearance of childhood’ thesis is proposed by which sociologists?

Answer 56

New right sociologists

Question 57

New right sociologists believe what about childhood?

Answer 57

That the changing position of children is having a negative impact - they do not like the socially constructed idea of childhood. Their main concern is that children are developing adult tendencies too quickly

Question 58

Postman claimed what contributed towards the disappearance of childhood?

Answer 58

The decline of information hierarchy It meant there was a line between adults who could read and children who could not Television has meant the hierarchy has been broken down, it destroys the innocence and ignorance of children

Question 59

Pugh believed what factor contributed towards the disappearance of childhood?

Answer 59

The growth of consumer culture in childhood Advertisers have turned children into pests who harass their parents for things (pester power) Parents who are cash rich but time poor buy their child the latest goods to help consume the guilt (consumption as compensation) He claims children have too much power over children

Question 60

What is pester power?

Answer 60

Where children harass their parents in order for them to buy the latest goods

Question 61

What is consumption as compensation?

Answer 61

Parents who are cash rich but time poor but their children the latest goods in order to alleviate feelings of guilt

Question 62

What are the criticisms of the disappearance of childhood thesis?

Answer 62

Jenks feels that people are infalitising children for far longer nowadays Opie - there is a very separate media culture for children which does help to retain the innocence of childhood

Question 63

Which sociologist is related to the ‘Toxic Childhood’ ?

Answer 63

Sue Palmer

Question 64

What does Sue Palmer suggest?

Answer 64

She focuses on the negative aspects of childhood | She feels rapid tech growth and culture changes have significantly damaged children

Question 65

Name the negative affects that Sue Palmer suggests have significantly damaged children ?

Answer 65

``` Junk food Computer games Excessive use of tech Consumerism targeting children Long working hours for parents ```

Question 66

What impact has the negative changes of childhood had on children?

Answer 66

``` Obesity Eating disorders Self harm Drug and alcohol abuse Violence Early sexual behaviours Pregnancy Mental health issues ```

Question 67

What criticisms can be mad of the “toxic childhood”?

Answer 67

They fixate on the supposed negative aspects of childhood The experiences of those in a Britain to those in developing countries shows that children on the UK are better cared for and supported Palmer is applying a generalised criticism of all parents for “fobbing off” their child with food and technology

Question 68

Which sociologist has a postmodernist view on childhood?

Answer 68

Jenks (2005)

Question 69

What is Jenks (2005) view on childhood?

Answer 69

He does not believe there is a disappearance of childhood for these reasons: -relationships are now more unstable in a postmodern society -This generates feelings of insecurity for parents, their relationships with children become their source of identity -more uncertainty and upheaval of life means parents are more fearful for their children’s security Strengthening the view that children are vulnerable and in need of protection

Question 70

What criticisms can be made of Jenk’s view?

Answer 70

It is difficult to measure parent-child bonds in an accurate way He over generalises his views, he implies that all children are in the same position

Question 71

What is the view of the ‘new sociology of childhood’?

Answer 71

They propose that in order to fully understand how children experience the world around them, we need to do more research from their perspective. They believe children play more of a proactive role in the family than people recognise

Question 72

Explain how Mason and Tipper (2008) explain the role of children?

Answer 72

They believe children create their own definitions of who their family are, for example, labelling aunts when they are not biologically related

Question 73

Explain how Smart (2001) defines the role of children in the family?

Answer 73

He believes that when families break down, children are proactive in trying to make things better for everyone, they’re concerned with how their parents are feeling.