Conflict view of childhood

• What is the Conflict view of Childhood?

  -Conflict theorists argue that the march of progress view of modern childhood is based on a false & idealised image that ignores portent inequalities. They criticise the march of progress view on two grounds:

  • Inequalities among children (Social Class, Ethnicity, Gender)
  • inequalities between children and adults
• How does social class affect childhood according to conflict theorists?

  • Social Class- (Howard)- Children who live in poverty are likely too have a poor diet, poor housing and therefore various health conditions. There are also higher incidents of both abuse and neglect for children from families with the lowest incomes.
• How does ethnicity affect Childhood according to Conflict theorists?

  • Ethnicity- Has a impact on the experience of childhood, e.g black & mixed race children are more likely to be in care than white & asian children.
  • Some minority groups are also more likely to be in lower income brackets so both factors would influence the experience of childhood.
  • (Brannen)- Asian parents are often stricter with girls than boys, influencing both genders’ experiences of childhood.
• How does gender affect childhood according to Conflict theorists?

  Parents are stricter with daughters than sons, particularly with certain ethnic groups. Particularly with the amount of freedom a child might have outside the home

  (Hillman)- Boys could and travel alone and stay out after dark at younger ages than girls

  This contributes to McRobbie & Garber’s bedroom culture where boys and girls develop separate subcultures from their different experiences of childhood with boys being out and girls being at home.

  (Bonke)- There were more expectations on girls to do house work than boys
• How do the inequalities between children and adults effect childhood According to conflict theorists?

  • Sociologists known as child liberationists believe that a person is oppressed and faces inequality, such as children being unable to work.
  • (Firestone)- Argues that this is not in an effort to protect children from the workplace, but is an inequality as children become entirely dependent on adults and therefore powerless.