childhood as a social construct

Question 1

describe ‘childhood as a social construct’

Answer 1

• it’s created and defined by society
• believe that what people mean by childhood and position of children is not fixed but differs between times, places and cultures

Question 2

what is accepted about childhood in society today?

Answer 2

• childhood is a special time of life
• they’re fundamentally different from adults

Question 3

what are children regarded as in the modern western society?

Answer 3

• physically and psychologically immature
• not yet competent to run their own lives

Question 4

what is the belief about children?

Answer 4

• their lack of skills, knowledge and experience means that they need a lengthy, protected period of nurturing and socialisation before they’re ready of adulthood and the responsibilities

Question 5

what does Pilcher note about modern childhood?

Answer 5

• the most important feature of modern idea of childhood is separateness
• childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life stage
  
  • they occupy different status from adults

Question 6

how are children different to adults?

Answer 6

• there’s laws that regulate what they’re allowed, required or forbidden to do
• how they dress esp for younger children
• products and services eg toys, food, books, entertainments, play areas etc

Question 7

what is another feature alongside the separateness of childhood?

Answer 7

• childhood as a ’golden age’ of happiness and innocence

Question 8

however, what is meant by childhood as innocent?

Answer 8

• that they’re seen as vulnerable and in need of protection from dangers of adult world
• they must be kept ’quarantined’ and separated from it

Question 9

what leads to children being ‘quarantined’ from dangers?

Answer 9

• their lives and lived largely in the sphere of the family and edu, where adults provide and protect them from outside world
• lead lives of leisure and play and excluded from paid work

Question 10

ao3: children as separate age status (critic)

Answer 10

• features are not universal

Question 11

ao3: Wagg about separate age status of children

Answer 11

• childhood is socially constructed = what members of particular societies, at particular times and places, say it is
• there’s no single universal childhood
• childhood is not natural
• should be distinguished from mere biological immaturity