Families Key Studies - Childhood

Question 1

Aries (1960)

Answer 1

Looks at childhood from a historical perspective, from the 10th-13th century children were not seen as separate, freak the middle ages childhood became a separate life stage.

Question 2

Pilcher (1995)

Answer 2

She notes that the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life state and children in our society occupy a separate status from adults.

Question 3

Wagg (1992)

Answer 3

The view of childhood as a separate age status is not universal. “Childhood is socially constructed, it is in other words what members of particular societies, at particular times, in particular places say it is. There is no single universal childhood experienced by all. So childhood isn’t “natural” and should be distinguished from mere biological immaturity”.

Question 4

Punch (2001)

Answer 4

Study showed that in non-industrial societies children took responsibility at a much earlier age.

Question 5

Shorter (1975)

Answer 5

High infant mortality meant that people were often indifferent towards children in the past

Question 6

Hillman (1993)

Answer 6

Boys are more likely to be able to cross the road and play in a wider area.

Question 7

Bhatti (1999)

Answer 7

Izzat (family honour) can place restrictions on girls from Asian families.

Question 8

Holt (1974)

Answer 8

Children are oppressed by the things that are seemingly put in place for their benefit, e.g. schooling, laws against children working etc.

Question 9

Cunningham (2007)

Answer 9

The area in which children are allowed to play has shrunk to 1/9th to what size it was 25 years ago.

Question 10

Gittins (1998)

Answer 10

Age Patriarchy - Fathers have undue control over their children and this is a form of oppression.

Question 11

Postman (1994)

Answer 11

Disappearance of childhood is occurring due to the lines between adults and children becoming less clear largely due to the consumption of mass media .

Question 12

Opie and Opie (1993)

Answer 12

Childhood is not disappearing as there is a seperate culture for children across many years.

Question 13

Palmer (2006)

Answer 13

Toxic Childhood - technological advancements have damaged children’s development. Changes that have been the most apparent are; accessibility of junk food, intensive marketing to children, access to computer games and growing working hours of parents.

Question 14

Brannenn (1994)

Answer 14

Study found there are differences in the way children are treated at home, Asian families put much greater controls on girls than boys and girls are generally expected to do more domestic work than boys.