Social construction of childhood

• What is meant by the social construction of childhood?


  Childhood is not a fixed stage of life but is shaped by society
• What is the modern western notion of childhood?


  Accepted our society today that childhood is a special time of life and that children are fundamentally different from adults
• Who talks about childhood in the modern western notion of childhood?

  Pilcher
• What does Pilcher argue?

  The most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life stage , and children in our society occupy a separate status from adults
• How is the idea of childhood separateness emphasised?

  Laws regulating what children are allowed to, required or forbidden to do
• According to Pilcher what age is childhood?

  Chilhood is a Golden age
• What is the golden age in childhood?

  Childhood is happiness and innocence. This innocence means that children are seen as vulnerable and in need of protection from the dangers of the adult world
• Who criticises the view of childhood as a separate age status and why?

  Wagg as it is not found in all societies. It is nit universal
• What are the cross cultural differences in childhood?

  Children in simpler , non industrial societies are treated differently from their modern western counterparts in 3 ways
• Who talks about the way children in different societies being treated differently

  Benedict
• What are the 3 ways in which children are treated differently in different societies?

  - They take responsibility at an early age

  - Less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority

  - Children's sexual behaviour is often viewed differently
• What is evidence supporting children in different societies take on responsibilities at an early age?

  Punch's study of childhood in rural Bolivia found that once children are about 5 years old , they are expected to take work responsibilities in the home and the community. Tasks are taken on without hesitation or question
• What is evidence supporting children in different societies place less value on children showing obedience to adult authority?

  Firth found that among the Tikopia of the western Pacific ,

  children see following instructions from adults as something that they can choose to allow, rather than something that adults must give them.
• What is evidence supporting that children's sexual behaviour is often viewed differently in different societies?


  Malinowski found that adults took an attitude of 'tolerance and amused interest' towards childrens sexual exploration and activities.
• What is the globalisation of western childhood?

  Some sociologists argue that the western notions of childhood are being globalised. International humanitarian and welfare agencies have exported and imposed on the rest of the world , western norms of what childhood should be
• What is an example of the globalisation of western childhood?

  Campaigns against child labour , or concerns about 'street children' in developing countries, reflect western views about how childhood should be
• What are historical differences in childhood?

  The position of children differs overtime as well as between societies. Many sociologists and historians argue that childhood as we understand today it today is a relatively recent 'intevention
• Who talks about childhood in the middle ages?

  Aries (1960)
• What does Aries argue about childhood?

  Aries argue that childhood did not exist in the middle ages . Children were not as seen as having a different 'nature' or needs from adults.
• In the middle ages what were children seen as?

  Mini adults
• How were children seen as 'mini adults'

  They had the same rights , duties and skills as adults
• what is an example of a child being a 'mini adult'?

  For example the law often made no distinction between children and adults , and children often faced the same severe punishments as those meted out to adults
• What is evidence of Aries view?


  Aries uses works of art from the medieval period. In these works of art children appear without 'any characteristics of childhood and the pictures show children and adults dressed in the same clothing working and playing together
• What also was different towards children in the middle ages from those today?

  Parental attitudes
• How were parental attitudes to children different in the Middle Ages?


  Shorter argues that high death rates encouraged indifference and neglect , especially towards infants. For example parents would refer to their baby as 'it's or to forget how many children they had
• According to Aries when did the elements of the modern motion of childhood begin to emerge?

  From the 13th century onwards
• What were the developments made from the 13th century onwards that introduced the modern notion of childhood?


  - Schools came to specialise purely in the education of the young

  - There was a growing distinction between children's and adults clothing

  - By the 18th century, handbooks on childrearing were widely available (a sign of growing child-centredness of family life)
• What sociologist criticised Aries and how?

  Pollock- She argues that it is more correct to say that in the middle ages society simply had a different notion of childhood from today's
• What were reasons for changes in the position of children?


  - Laws restricting child labour and excluding children from paid work: From being economic assets who could earn a wage children can become an economic liability, financially dependent on their parents

  - The introduction of compulsory schooling in 1880 opening better opportunities for children

  - Child protection and welfare legislation such as 1889 prevention of cruelty to children