The Future of Childhood

• The Disappearance of Childhood

  Postman: argues that childhood is disappearing quickly; pointing out the trend towards giving children the same rights as adults, the disappearance of children's traditional unsupervised games, the growing similarity of adults' and children's clothing, and the cases of children committing 'adult' crimes like murder. Claiming this due to the fall of print culture, and the rise of television culture.
• The Disappearance of Childhood

  During the Middle Ages, only speech was required for participation in the adult world- meaning children could enter from an earlier age, childhood wasn't associated with innocence and the adult world wasn't seen as a mystery. There was no division between the world of an adult and that of a child.
• The Disappearance of Childhood- Information Hierarchy

  Postman argues that childhood emerged as a separate status along with mass literacy; printed words creates an information hierarchy: a sharp division between adults who can read, and children who cannot. Giving adults power to keep knowledge about sex, money, violence, illness a secret from children. Childhood then was associated with innocence and ignorance. Television blurs the distinction through destroying the IH; childhood is replaced by knowledge and cynicism. Their tastes and styles become indistinguishable.
• The Disappearance of Childhood- Evaluation

  Opie argues that childhood isn't disappearing, based on research into children's unsupervised games, rhymes and songs found that there is strong evidence of the continued separate children's culture over many years.

  Postman's study is valuable in showing how different types of communication technology (like print and television) can influence the way childhood is constructed. Though he over-emphasises television at the expense of other factors which have influenced the development of childhood.
• Childhood in Postmodernity (1)

  Jenks agrees with Aries that childhood was a creation of modern society- claiming the 20th century was focused on the preparation of the young to become productive adults in the future, and this is then achieved through nurture (the 'child-centred family and education)- imposing discipline and conformity on children. Though Jenks argues that childhood is undergoing change again as society moves from modernity to postmodernity.
• Childhood in Postmodernity (2)

  In modern society, adults' relationships were more stable- but in postmodern society, the pace of change speeds up and relationships become more unstable. E.g. divorce becomes more common. Causing feelings of insecurity- relationships with their children become adults' identity and stability; while marriage may end in divorce, you are still a parent to your child.
• Childhood in Postmodernity (3)

  In postmodern society, relationships with their children thus become adults' last refuge from the constant uncertainty and upheaval of life. Meaning adults become more fearful for their child's security and become more preoccupied with protecting them. This strengthens the view of children being vulnerable within the modern notion, this then results in a greater surveillance and regulation of children's lives. This then criticises Postman as childhood continues to be a separate status.
• Childhood in Postmodernity- Evalutation

  Evidence for and against Jenks' claims are limited- there is some evidence that parents see their relationship with their children as more important than with their partners, and that parents are concerned about the risks their children could face- however, evidence comes from small-scale, unrepresentative studies. Jenks is guilty of over-generalising; despite the greater diversity of family structures found today, Jenks then implies that all children are in the same position.