Future of Childhood

• Disappearance of Childhood - Postman:

  > children are becoming more like adults e.g. clothing, same rights

  > this is due to the destruction of the information hierarchy through TV and the internet - information is available to adults and children

  > adult authority diminishes and the innocence of childhood is replaced by knowledge and cynicism
• Childhood is Changing (Postmodernity)- Jenks:

  > Jenks argues that childhood is changing, not disappearing

  > in a postmodern society, where families are diverse and romantic relationships become unstable, relationships with children become a more important source of identity and stability - they are refuge for adults from uncertainty

  > as adults become even more fearful of their child's security, it becomes more important to protect them, which leads to greater surveillance and regulation of their lives