Childhood

• What did Benedict say about cross cultural differences in childhood?

  Compared children in simpler non-industrial societies with those in western societies and found that children in non-western cultures are treated differently from the modern western children:

  • they took responsibility at an earlier age
  • There was less value on children showing obedience
  • And sexual behaviours were treated differently
• What did Postman say about the disappearing of childhood?

  He suggests that childhood is disappearing at a dazzling rate in modern society, due to the rise of mass media + children who have much more access and rights to the adult world.

  He argues that the boundaries between adult hood and childhood has been broken down due to television culture. This is because the TV blur the distinction between childhood and adult hood by destroying the information hierarchy. The information is available to everyone so children end up watching things that are for for adults.
• What does Lee evaluate against Postman?

  Childhood has become more complex and ambiguous, but has far from disappeared. Children are more independent in some way, making choices about what product succeeded in the market. However, they are still dependent on their parents for that purchasing power.
• What did Aries say about the idea that childhood was socially constructed?

  He looked overtime to see how children were treated. - 10th-13th century the idea of childhood did not exist. Children were not viewed as having different needs or natures from adults.

  • In the middle ages, childhood was short. Once the child could eat they were entered into wide society.
  • In 18th century handbook on raising children were available and by the 20th century, there is a world that is obsessed with childhood
• What can criticise against Aries?

  • Cunningham Examined Renaissance art and found that children were in fact depicted as innocent. Therefore, childhood during this time did exist.
  • Pilcher criticises him for generalising about childhood from data. He collected that was based on French aristocratic families that is not generalisable to wider society
• Going against Postman, what did JENKS say about childhood in postmodernity?

  In modern society, children were being prepared for adulthood. Education was seen as very large part of that preparation for a long time. So children were forced to remain children for as long as possible and they were nurtured for a long time. Jenks argues that in modern society has always been returned to focus on children, vulnerability and innocence, and they need to protect them, especially from child abuse, therefore, according to JENKS childhood is not disappearing.
• What is the March of Progress’ view on childhood?

  Argue that the position of childhood in western societies has improved over the last few centuries. They argue that today children are more valued, better cared for protected and educated enjoy better health and have more rights than those previous generations.

  • For example, children are protected from harm and exploitation, by laws against child, abuse and child labour.
  • better healthcare and higher standards of living also mean that babies have a much better chance of survival
• What is meant by the child centred family?

  Highest standards of living and smaller family sizes means that parents can afford to provide for children’s needs properly. March of progress sociologists argued that the family has become tailed centred and children on no longer to be ‘ seen and not heard’ as they were in Victorian Times. Also parents invest a great deal in their children emotionally, as well as financially and have higher aspirations for them.
• What did Sue Palmer say about the ‘toxic childhood’?

  Argues that rapid technological and cultural changes in the past 25 years has damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development. These concerns range from junk food, computer games and intensive marketing to children to the long hours, worked by parents and growing emphasis on testing in education.
• What do Marxist feminist sociologists argue against the March of progress view?

  Criticise them and argue

  • There are many inequalities among children in terms of the opportunities and risks they may face.; many are unprotected and badly cared for
  • there are any qualities between children and adults children today experience of greater control, oppression and dependency, not greater care and protection
• (Inequalities among children) Nationalities

  Not all children share the same experiences. Children of different nationalities are likely to experience different childhood and different life chances. For example, 90% of the world birth children are born in developing countries.
• (Inequalities among children) Gender

  The agenda differences between children. Research has been found that boys are more likely to be allowed to cross or cycle on roads use buses and go out after dark on accompanied. Therefore you could argue that they are able to have more fun or get into danger themselves.
• (Inequalities among children) Ethnicity

  Brannen found that Asian parents of 15 to 16-year-olds were stricter with their daughters than they were with their sons. Also research found out that idea of family honour could be a restriction, especially on the behaviour of girls.
• (Inequalities among children) Social class

  • poor mothers, are more likely to have a low birthweight babies, which leads to delayed physical and intellectual development
  • Children who come for a lower class or more likely to have problems in school and fall behind and suffer long-standing illnesses
• (forms of inequalities between children and adults) Neglect and Abuse

  Adult control over children can take the extreme force of physical neglect or physical, sexual or emotional abuse. The charity Childline receives over 20,000 calls a year from children saying that they have been sexually or physically abused. Such figures indicate the dark side of family life of which children are the victims
• (forms of inequalities between children and adults) comtrol over children’s bodies

  Adults, exercise, enormous control over children’s bodies, including how they sit walk and run what they wear the hairstyles, and whether or not they can have their ears pierced. Children are washed, fed and dressed, have their heads patted, and their hands held cuddled and kissed.

  At the same time adults restrict the way in which children might touch their own bodies. For example, a child might be told not to pick their nose, suck their thumb, and this contrasts with the sexual freedoms enjoyed by children in some non-industrial cultures.
• (forms of inequalities between children and adults) Control of a children’s access to resources

  In industrial society, children have only limited opportunities to earn money, so they remain dependent economically on adults

  For example, although the state pay child benefit this goes to the parent, not the child and the pocket money that are given by parents might depend on this good behaviour and there might be restrictions on what it can be spent on

  All this contrasts with the economic role of children in developing societies today were they able to choose how to spend their own money
• (forms of inequalities between children and adults) control of children’s time

  
  

  control children's daily routines, including the times when they get up, eat, go to school, come home, go out, play, watch television and sleep. Adults also control the speed at which children 'grow up'. It is they who define whether a child is too old or too young for this or that activity, responsibility or behaviour.
• (forms of inequalities between children and adults) The child’s point of view

  by Carol Smart (2011), focuses on including children’s own experiences and views while they are living through childhood. This approach moves away from seeing children as passive and instead recognises them as active participants in shaping their lives. Smart’s study of divorce, for example, found that children often try to improve situations for everyone involved, showing maturity and agency. Another researcher says children view family flexibly, sometimes including non-relatives as ‘close’ family members. This approach uses informal research methods like unstructured interviews, allowing children to express their views freely. It also draws attention to the power imbalance between children and adults, supporting efforts by child liberationists who advocate for children’s rights.
• (inequalities between children and adults) control over children’s space

  Children’s movements in industrial societies, such as Britain are highly regulated. For example, shops may display signed such as no school children. Children are playing some areas and forbidden if they play others. There are fears about road safety and stranded danger. It has led to more children being driven to school rather than going by themselves. This control and surveillance contrast for the independence of many children in developing countries today. For example in Sudan children are allowed to run freely within the village and for several km outside it
• What do we call these people who argue that there are inequalities between children and adults?

  child liberationists
• what are the criticisms against Child Liberationist's views?

  • They over exaggerate the control over children and argue that some control is justified on the grounds that children can't make rational decisions and so are unable to safeguard their interests themselves
  • Also children arent as powerless as they suggest, there is the Children's Act, and the UNC on the rights of children
• What are these people who argue that there are inequalities between children and adults called?

  child liberationists
• What are the critics against Child Liberationists?

  have overexaggerated the control over children and argue that some control is justified on the grounds that children can’t make rational decisions and so are unable to safegaurd their interests themselves. They also argue that children aren’t as powerless as they suggest Through the Childrens Act and the UNC on Children’s rights established that children have to be protected and consulted
• Who said about the golden age?

  pilcher