Childhood - How has the Position of Children Improved?

Question 1

March of progress view of the position of children

Answer 1

Position of children in western societies has been gradually improving and it better than it has ever been today

Question 2

Two sociologists who believe in the march of progress view

Answer 2

Ariès and Shorter

Question 3

Why is the position of children better than that of children in previous generations according to Ariès and Shorter? (5 reasons)

Answer 3

Children are:
-More valued
-Better cared for
-Better educated
-Healthier
-Have more rights

Question 4

What has led to lower IMR?

Answer 4

Better healthcare

Question 5

What can parents afford to do as result of higher living standards and smaller family sizes?

Answer 5

Afford to provide for their children’s needs properly

Question 6

Average cost of raising child to age of 18 in UK

Answer 6

£150,000 - £200,000

Question 7

What has the family became more according to march of progress sociologists?

Answer 7

More child-centred

Question 8

Why has the family become more child-centred?

Answer 8

Because parents invest more emotionally and financially into their children than ever before

Question 9

Who developed the idea of toxic childhood?

Answer 9

Palmer

Question 10

What does Palmer’s toxic childhood suggests about childhood which is different to march of progress view?

Answer 10

It isn’t better than it has ever been

Question 11

What has been damaged in the last 25 years due to rapid technological and cultural changes according to Palmer’s toxic childhood?

Answer 11

Children’s emotional, physical and intellectual development

Question 12

Examples of technological and cultural changes

Answer 12

Junk food
Intensive marketing to children
Computer games
Long hours worked by parents
Growing pressure on educational testing

Question 13

What do UK youths have above rates in international league tables of? (Palmer’s toxic childhood)

Answer 13

Obesity
Self-harm
Drug/alcohol abuse
Violence
Early sexual experience
Teenage pregnancies

Question 14

Out of 21 countries, what did UNICEF put the UK at following a report on Well-being of the Child?

Answer 14

16/21

Question 15

What do conflict sociologists (Marxists and feminists) argue society is based on?

Answer 15

Conflict between different social groups as some groups having more wealth, status and power than others

Question 16

What is the march of progress view based on according to conflict sociologists?

Answer 16

False and idealised images that ignore inequalities

Question 17

Two reasons why conflict sociologists criticise the march of progress view

Answer 17

Inequalities among children are ignored
Inequalities between children and adults are ignored

Question 18

4 types of inequalities among children

Answer 18

Cultural
Gender
Ethnic
Classm

Question 19

Where are 90% of lowest body-weight babies born? (Cultural differences among children)

Answer 19

Developing countries

Question 20

What are boys more likely to be able to do unaccompanied from a younger age than girls according to Hillman? (Gender differences among children)

Answer 20

Cross or cycle on roads
Use buses
Go out after dark

Question 21

Following a study of 15-16 year olds, what are Asian parents more likely to be according to Brannen? (Ethnic differences among children)

Answer 21

More likely to be strict to their daughters than other parents

Question 22

What could be a restriction of childhood according to Bhatti? (Ethnic differences among children)

Answer 22

Ideas of izzat

Question 23

Izzit

Answer 23

Concept of honour mostly in North Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cultures

Question 24

What babies are poor mothers more likely to have? (Class differences among children)

Answer 24

Low body-weight babies

Question 25

What are children born into poorer families more likely to do? (Class differences among children)

Answer 25

Die during infancy or childhood

Question 26

What are many of the things that march of progress sociologists see as protection and care a new form of according to Firestone and Holt?

Answer 26

A new form of oppression and control

Question 27

What is protection of children from paid work a form of according to Firestone?

Answer 27

Inequality

Question 28

What is protection of children from paid work a way of making children according to Firestone?

Answer 28

Making children more dependent, powerless and subject to adult control

Question 29

Child liberationalism

Answer 29

View that children need to be freed from adult control

Question 30

What extreme form can adult control over children take?

Answer 30

Extreme form of physical neglect or physical/sexual abuse

Question 31

How many children were subject to the Child Protection Plan in 2022?

Answer 31

50,920

Question 32

How many children were subject to the Child Protection Plan in 2013?

Answer 32

43,000

Question 33

How many calls does Child Line receive a year from children saying they have been sexually or physically abused?

Answer 33

20,000

Question 34

Examples of how children’s movements in industrial societies are highly regulated

Answer 34

Shops may display signs like “no schoolchildren” or “only 2 schoolchildren allowed at once”

Question 35

What percentage of primary school children were allowed to travel to and from school alone in 1971?

Answer 35

86%

Question 36

What percentage of primary school children were allowed to travel to and from school alone in 2010?

Answer 36

25%

Question 37

Examples of how adults control children’s daily routines

Answer 37

Adults control time children wake up, eat, go to school and sleep

Question 38

3 ways in which adults control their children’s bodies

Answer 38

Control his they look Control how their touch their own bodies Touch their children’s bodies when they want (E.g. they wash them, pick them up and cuddle them)

Question 39

Why are children economically dependent on adults?

Answer 39

Because children’s opportunities to earn money are limited

Question 40

Who do state child benefits go to?

Answer 40

Parents, instead of children

Question 41

How is pocket money a way in which scuffs control children’s access to money?

Answer 41

Pocket money may be given by parents due to good behaviour Parents will control what the money is spent on

Question 42

Who developed idea of age patriarchy?

Answer 42

Gittins

Question 43

What does the age patriarchy state?

Answer 43

There are inequalities between children and adults due to adult domination and child dependency

Question 44

Definition of patriarchy

Answer 44

Rule by the father

Question 45

How is father power present?

Answer 45

In form of violence against children and women

Question 46

According to a study of 200 women who left abusive partners by Humphreys and Thiara, what was the reason for 25% of them?

Answer 46

Fears for children’s lives

Question 47

According to Hockey and James, how do children resist the status of child?

Answer 47

By acting like adults through activities such as drinking, smoking and swearing

Question 48

What is childhood according to Hockey and James?

Answer 48

A concept that most children want to escaped

Question 49

What do critics of child liberationalist view argue about some adult control over children?

Answer 49

It is justified on grounds that children can’t make rational choices so are unable to safeguard themselves

Question 50

What does the ‘new sociology of childhood’ see children as?

Answer 50

Active agents who play a major part in creating their own childhood, instead of children being adults in the making

Question 51

How do children play an active role in divorce according to Smart et al?

Answer 51

By trying to make the situation better