Childhood

• Social construction= "A social phenomenon which is not naturally occurring but created by society and which varies from culture to culture."
• If something is not socially constructed it is Biologically determined.
• "Childhood is a social construction"

  YES it is

  • Childhood varies from culture to culture.
  • Laws which separate 'adulthood' from 'childhood'.
  • Historical evidence suggests it.

  NO it isn't

  • Childhood is a clear and distinct biological life stage.
  • Children are immature.
  • Psychological development continues in your early twenties.
• Modern western notions of childhood

  • children are regarded as fundamentally different from adults.
  • Physically.
  • Psychologically.
  • Socially.
  • Economically.
  • Maturity.
  • Lack of experience and skills.
  • Children, however, don't gain all these things the moment they hit puberty or become legal adults; it is a process which occurs over time.
• Modern western notions of childhood

  • In the UK you are legally an adult at 18.
  • You can work from 15.
  • You can have consensual sex at 16.
  • You can drive a car at 17.
  • You can smoke and buy alcohol at 18.
  • This is evidence to support the 'process over time' idea and the notion that childhood in the UK is socially constructed.
• Modern Western notions of childhood

  • Pilcher (1995)
  • The most clear distinction of childhood is 'separateness'.
  • Laws which determine what children can and cannot do.
  • Products and services aimed specifically at children i.e. books, foods, toys, clothes, games.
  • 'Golden age' of happiness and innocence.
  • Vulnerable and in need of protection.
  • A life of play and leisure.
• Cross-cultural differences in childhood

  • Other societies and cultures do not necessarily define childhood in the same way as the western world.
  • Children in undeveloped countries often are used as an economic asset, child soldiers, ot forced in to marriage.
  • Benedict (1934) argues children in non-developed and non-industrial societies are treated differently from western children in three ways:
  • They take on responsibilities at an early age, especially domestic roles.
  • Less value is placed on the obedient child.
  • Variations in child sexual behaviour.
• Historical differences in childhood

  • The position of children has changed over time and 'childhood' is a modern invention.
  • Aries (1960)
  • Prior to the 13th century, during the middle-ages childhood did not exist.
  • Children worked in domestic and/or manual roles as early as they reasonably could.
  • 'Mini-adults' with the same duties and skills and adults.
  • The law made no distinction between adults and children and they were often punished in the same manner for the same crimes.
• Historical differences in childhood

  • Aries (1960)
  • In historical paintings children are often depicted in similar clothing to adults and engaging in similar activities.
  • They possess no distinct characteristics of childhood are are simply 'smaller in scale'.
  • This is evidence that childhood is a relatively recent social construction.
• Historical differences in childhood

  Aries (1960)

  • Childhood began to emerge:
  • In the 13th century schools specifically for children opened, under the influence of the church.
  • In the 17th century clothing for adults and children became more distinct.
  • In the 18th century books on childrearing were being sold, the emergence of 'child-centeredness'.
  • This has led to the 'cult of childhood' and a 20th century which is obsessed with children and childhood.
• Reasons for the changes in position of children

  • Laws preventing children from entering paid work.
  • Compulsory schooling.
  • Child protection legislation.
  • Children's rights.
  • Declining family sizes and lower IMR.
  • Medical developments.
  • Laws and policies which regulate behaviour.
  • Industrialisation is the key factor in all of these things and helped create the modern notion of childhood.
• The March of Progress view

  • Aries (1960) for example.
  • Children are better protected, are more valued, and have greater access to care for their psychological, physical and emotional needs.
  • Higher standards of living and improvements to healthcare have led to a decline in the IMR.
  • A child-centred society.
• The conflict view

  • Argues the march of progress view is idealistic and ignores two types of inequality:

  1. Inequalities among children.
  2. Inequalities between children and adults.
• Inequalities among children

  • Children born in different nationalities, social classes, ethnic groups and genders will have significantly different life experiences and life chances.
  • Children born in developing countries still have a much lower quality of life and life expectancy compared to western countries.
• Inequalities among children

  • Hillman (1993) argues boys are more likely to be allowed out alone in the dark, for example.
  • Bhatti(1999) found Asian families could put restrictions on children, particularly girls, in the name of honour.
  • Brannen (1994) found Asian parents are more likely to be strict towards their daughters.
  • We cannot generalise 'children'- they experience of children and childhood varies based on social class, gender and ethnic differences.
• Inequalities between children and adults

  • There is a power dynamic between adults and children, which presents a clear inequality.
  • Firestone (1979) sees the new forms of protection and control as oppressive; for example, removing children from paid work segregates them and makes them more dependent and powerless.
• Child neglect and abuse

  • Adults use their power over children to abuse and neglect them.
  • The dark side of the family.
• Control over children

  • Space
  • Time
  • Bodies
  • Access to resources
• Control over Children

  • Space
  • The movement of children is heavily regulated; some areas are forbidden and others are child-friendly spaces.
  • Road safety and 'stranger danger'.
  • The surveillance of children.
  • Time
  • Adults dictate children's routines and schedules.
  • Adults dictate the speed at which children grow up.
• Control over children

  • Bodies
  • Dress codes and behaviours are all enforced and regulated by adults.
  • Adults dictate the rules regarding the touching of children; smacking, hand-holding; washing etc.
  • Access to resources
  • Children are economically dependent on adults.
  • state benefit for children are paid to the parent.
  • Adults regulate children's flow of income through pocket money etc. and use it as a tool to encourage good behaviour.
• Age patriarchy

  • Gittins (1998) concept to describe the inequalities between adults and children.
  • In the same way feminists use patriarchy to describe men's domination and control of women, age patriarchy describes the notion that children are oppressed and dominated by adults.
  • As families are typically ruled by men this control over the children through family is considered an extension of the patriarchy.
• Age patriarchy

  • Children may experience childhood as oppressive as they are trapped in a power dynamic and have no control over their own decisions.
• Toxic childhood

  • Palmer (2007) argues rapid technological and cultural changes in the last twenty five years have caused emotional, psychological and physical harm to children.
  • Mental health.
  • Junk food and obesity.
  • Social media.
  • Pressures in education.
• The disappearance of childhood

  Postman (1994)

  • Children are becoming more like adults:
  • Clothing is growing more similar.
  • Children are increasingly exposed to the adult world through media.
  • Serious crimes committed by children.
  • The disappearance of unsupervised games.
• The disappearance of childhood

  • The children and young person's mental health crisis in the UK.
  • In 2018, one in ten children was diagnosed with a mental health condition in 2018.
  • Females are more likely to be psychologically distressed than males.
  • Social class also plays a factor; living in poverty is likely to lead to increased mental health issues.
  • Children as unpaid care providers to other family members.
  • The sexualisation of children, including changing attitudes to sex and relationships i.e. the age of consent.