Childhood as a social construction

• (YES) Historical relativity-


  -Explanation-Aries- childhood has changed over time what we now consider to be childhood in a modern construction.

  -Evidence- Pre-industrial era- studied using painting found that children were considered many adults, Industrial era- development of child protection laws but children still worked in factories and modern era- protected time of innocence and dependency and have a distinctive separate culture to adults.
• (NO) Dominant framework- James and Pract-

  -Children- simple and amoral

  -Adults- complex and moral
• (YES) Cultural relativity-


  -Explanation- Benedict- childhood varies from culture and within cultures itself.

  -Evidence- Intacultural differences- in particular class differences. Intercultural differences- responsibilities and freedoms
• (YES/NO) Sensible Analytic Approach-

  -Definition- different stages of development are more likely to be a social construction than others

  -Infancy/toddlers- not a social construction due to complete dependency on others

  -5-12 years- could be considered a social construction as difference appear culturally and interculturally

  -13+ years- social construction as difference both culturally and historically are much more apparent.
• (NO) Separateness- Pilcher-


  -Socially separated- childhood is a clear and distinct life stage

  -Physical Immaturity- Children haven't yet reached physical maturity

  -Psychological immaturity- Psychological development continues into the mid 20s