Childhood

• The disappearance of childhood- POSTMAN: simularities in clothing between kids and adults, TV blurs information hierarchy- adults could keep secrets about sex and money etc from kids with print culture
• Sue palmer- toxic childhood: technology has damaged kids- junk food, video games and parents working long hours. Uk youth ranked high on league tables for self harm and alcohol abuse.
• Marxist and feminists- kids have different opportunities- 90% of low birth weight babies born in undeveloped counties. Brannen- Asian parents more likely to be strict towards daughters. Kids born to poor families more likely to develop long term illness. Dark side of family life- 50K kids put into child protection plans in 2020
• March of progress- ARIES- childhood is better now as kids have better access to health care and education. Smaller families so parents can spend more time with kids and by 21 parents spend 227k on kid
• Childhood as a social construct Aries- the modern ages childhood DIDNT exist as kids were “mini adults“ and they began work early. Paintings show kids in the same clothes as adults with no toys.
• Shorter- higher imr in modern age led to more neglect of kids
• Western society- Pilcher- childhood is a time of innocence. toys produced for them and they need protecting from the dangers of the world
• Criticism of childhood- WAGG there isn’t a univeral experience of childhood as many cultures see kids as not that different from adults but the globalisation of western childhood leads to campaigns against child labour even though this may be the norm for some cultures
• Holmes study of Samoan village found that being too young was not an excuse for not doing a task
• Reasons for the changing position of kids: laws restricting kids from paid work, intro of compulsory schooling, decrease in IMR and kids protection such as 1989 childrens act.
• 1971- 86% primary school kids allowed to travel to school independently but only 12% allowed in 2013