Changing Position of Childhood

• Childhood has Improved - March of Progress:

  > the march of progress view argues that the position of children, in Western societies, has been steadily improving

  > Aries and Shorter - today's children are more valued, protected and educated, enjoy better health and have more rights
• Childhood has Improved - Child-centred families:

  > families today are much smaller, meaning parents can afford to provide for their children's needs properly, and children are now the focal point of the family

  > parents often have high aspirations for their children, wanting them to have more opportunities than they had

  > society is now child-centred e.g. much media output and leisure activities are designed for children
• Childhood has Not Improved - Toxic Childhood:

  > Palmer - children are experiencing 'toxic childhood'

  > rapid technological and cultural changes (junk food, testing in education) have damaged children's physical, emotional and intellectual development - they are no longer protected

  > the UK is near the top of the international league tables for obesity, self harm, drug and alcohol abuse
• Childhood has Not Improved - Conflict View:

  > they criticise the march of progress view on two grounds - there are inequalities among children, and inequalities between children and adults

  > inequalities among children - gender, ethnic and class differences, and different experiences

  > inequalities between children and adults - Child Liberationists seek to free children from adult control over space, time, children's bodies and children's access to resources