Historical Differences

• What was childhood like in pre-industrial society?

  • (Aries)- Studied old artworks and concluded that in pre-industrial Europe there was no concept of childhood and that children were seen as mini-adults, partaking in all the same activities as adults.
  • Children were also seen as economic assets, being put to work to contribute to the family economically.
  • Parents also had little emotional attatchment to children due to the high infant mortality rates.
  • Children were also not considered innocent and so weren’t shielded from sexual activities.
• Who criticized Aries' methodology regarding pre-industrial society?

  Pollock
• What was Pollock's main argument against Aries' view of childhood?

  Children's adult roles in artwork don't negate childhood
• Why does Pollock argue that portraits do not accurately reflect everyday dress?

  People dressed their best for portraits
• What limitation does Pollock highlight about medieval family portraits?

  They were only for the very wealthy
• What did Punch's research on children in rural Bolivia reveal?

  Children took on adult responsibilities from age 5
• What are the main criticisms of Aries' view of childhood in pre-industrial society?

  • Pollock criticized methodology
  • Artwork does not negate childhood concept
  • Portraits reflect best dress, not daily wear
  • Medieval portraits represent wealthy minority
  • Punch found children in Bolivia take adult roles early
• What was childhood like in industrial society?

  • Childhood began to change at this point in time, which church leaders and religion starting to see children as vulnerable individuals who needed to be protected.
  • Schools also began to be introduced but were not available For all.
  • For lower class families children were still found working in factories and mines, they were not given the same opportunities as middle-class children. Working class children were seen a cheap labour and often worked in dangerous conditions - They did this to bring in income to the family.
• What are the evaluations of childhood in industrial society?

  (Aries)- Childhood only started to change for Middle-class children so was childhood truly changing?
• What is Current day childhood & ’The Golden Age’ of childhood?

  • We are in the Golden Age of childhood, with children restricted from working, protected by child laws and an innocence and a need to be protected from the dangerous world. This is known as the ‘western notion of childhood’.
  • (Pilcher)- The most important modern idea of childhood is seperateness with childhood being seen as a clear and distinct life stage.
• Why did these changes happen?

  • introduction of compulsory education ( E.g 5-10 yr olds in 1880).
  • Child labour laws restricting them from the workplace and paid work (Factory Act 1833- no children under 9 in factories).
  • Declining family sizes & decreases in infant mortality rates meant parents had much greater financial & emotional investment in their children.
  • Children‘s health and development became public knowledge through research.