About a quarter of children in the Uk live in poverty
Aries
According to Aries childhood was a social construct because in medieval times children and adults were equal and children were even seen as 'little adults'. He argues that the social construction of childhood was a result of industrialisation as work moved out of the family and into the factories. Then grew the need for an illiterate workforce which brought forward compulsory education in 1880. Child labour laws and other laws put in place to protect children also helped build this notion of 'childhood' as children needed to be protected.
What is age patriarchy?
Gittens talks about it. There is an age of patriarchy which keeps children inferior to adults, through set bedtimes and such. children must obey their parents and this is just one example of inequalities between adults and children who are reliant financially on their parents. Criticisms - children can legally set themselves apart from their parents through emancipation.
Who talks about the disappearance of childhood?
Postman - As children have been exposed to the adult world through TV series and other forms of media, childhood has essentially disappeared, as they are more likely to mimic adult behaviour. The lines are blurred between adulthood and childhood.
