Families And Households - Changes To The Status Of Children Flashcards
(15 cards)
Overview of the march of progress
Argues that over the past few centuries the position of children in western societies has been steadily improving and today is better than it’s ever been.
Legal evidence of the march of progress
- Work restrictions.
- Compulsory education.
- Safeguarding in schools.
- Juvenile v adult legal systems.
Right is the child
United Nations right of the child states every child has basic fundamental rights.
These include the right to:
Life, survival and development, protection from violence, abuse or neglect, an education that enables children to fulfil their potential by being raised or having a relationship with parents, expressing opinions and being listened to.
Also asks states to ensure under 18s aren’t forcibly recruited into the armed forces.
Prohibition of child pornography and slavery and allows children whose rights have been violated to complain directly to the UN.
Evidence of the march of progress - protections and welfare services
UK has a minister for Children and Families.
Social Services purpose is to protect children and support families.
March of progress evidence - child centredness
Quality over quantity.
Families have less children ensuring they can give the children they do have the best possible start in life.
Decisions are made with the best interests of the child in mind from what to eat, where to holiday and if to move house.
Conflict view
Children still experience conflict in society.
Different children have different experiences of childhood so some will be better than others.
Intra-child conflict and inequality - Gender - Hillman
Boys and girls have different experiences of childhood due to gender role socialisation.
Boys generally given more freedom at an earlier age than girls who are often socialised into bedroom culture of more sedate and quiet activities such as reading and talking with friends.
Intra-child conflict and inequality - ethnicity - Brannen
Ethnic groups will have different expectations on their children and at what age they take on responsibilities.
Brannen found in Asian families parents were much stricter and held a tighter hold on their daughter whereas Bhatti found the idea of Izzat (family honour) can have an impact on children’s experiences.
Intra-child conflict and inequality - class - woodroffe
Poor mothers are more likely to give birth to children of lower birth weight which can be linked to delayed physical and mental development.
Children from poor families are more likely to die n infant or suffer long standing illnesses, be shorter and fall behind in school.
They’re also more likely to be on a child protection list for neglect.
Adult and child conflict and inequality
Child liberationists believe childhood has become oppressive with adults using the excuse of protection to limit children’ activities and create a culture of dependency.
Firestone and Holt see what the march of progress see as care and protect as just new forms of oppression and control.
They see the need to free children from adult control.
Ways children are controlled by adults:
- Resources.
- Space.
- Time.
- Bodies.
Resources
Industrial societies have limited children’s access to earning money so remain dependent on adults.
This is achieved through:
- Compulsory education and labour laws.
- Child benefit is given to the parent not child.
- Pocket money.
Space
Children’s movements particularly in western societies is highly regulated.
E.g. children have specific areas where they’re allowed to play and where they aren’t allowed to go, shops may restrict the number of schools children or ban them entirely.
Higher CCTV coverage on children’s areas.
Time
Children have rather strict daily routines especially during term time but even in the holidays parents will control when children eat, sleep, watch tv etc.
Parents also try to control how quickly children grow up by limiting responsibility or behaviour.
Bodies
Adults exercise great control over children’s bodies including how they sit, walk, dress and are touched etc.
However they also control how children touch their own bodies e.g. picking nose or not playing with genitals.
