historical differences in childhood

• philippe aries (1960) has argued that in pre-industry society, childhood did not exist. instead, children were "little adults" who would take on adult responsibilities from as young as 7 or 8
• • in the eyes of the law 7 or 8 year olds were seen as being criminally responsible which means they could be tried and punished for crimes on a similar basis to adults
• there was a high level of infant mortality
• life was very hard children had to work to allow the family to survive
• most sociologists agree that the process of industrialisation{the sift from agriculture to factory production as the basis of the economy -underlies many of the changes of the position of childhood}
• similarly, the higher standards of living and better welfare provision that industry makes possible lead to lower infant mortality rates
• why positions have changed

  • laws banning child labour
  • compulsory schooling
  • child protection
  • children's rights} law
  • lower infant mortality rates
  • specialist knowledge of children's health}societal