sociological explanations of changes in childhood

Question 1

Historical differences - Aries (1960)

Answer 1

E - Aries argues in the middle ages, the idea of childhood did not exist. Children were not seen as having a different nature or needs from adults - separate - art work showing children wearing adult clothes just depicted on smaller scale.
E - This means today, children have developed a seperate status from adults with them being protected from society with multiple differences and children being an important factor todays.
E -Pollock (1983) argues it is more correct to say in Middle Ages society simply had a different notion of. childhood from today.

Question 2

The disappareance of childhood - Postman (1994)

Answer 2

E - Postman argues disappearing at a ‘dazzling speed’ - giving children same rights as adults - disappearance of unsupervised games, children’s clothing and even children coming crimes such as murder e.g. adolescence.
E - Due to fall of print culture to TV culture - printed words create information hierarchy so adults can only haver knowledge on sex, money, violence etc. TV doesn’t require skill to access - boundary broken - children’s style become indistinguishable.
E - Opie (1993) argues childhood is not disappearing based off research on games, rhymes and songs conducted with her husband Peter - strong evidence of continued existence separateness.

Question 3

Toxic childhood - Palmer (2007)

Answer 3

E - Palmer argues technological and cultural changes in past 25 years have damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development - from junk food, computer games etc.
E - UK youth have above average rates in international league tables for obesity, self harm, drug use, teenage pregnancy - change as children are maturing earlier.
E - Furedi (2001) are over exaggerated - adults today overprotect children, creating unnecessary fear about childhood being ‘in crisis’.

Question 4

March of progress -