Childhood

• Childhood


  Stephen wagg - A distinct separate life stage in the West, where children are seen as fundamentally different from adults, physically and psychologically immature, and lacking the skills and experience to fully engage in society
• Pilcher - In the West, children are treated differently, dressed differently, and expected to do different things from adults, reflecting the view of childhood as a distinctive life stage
• Childhood in the West

  Seen as a golden age of innocence, where children are believed to be born without blemish and become socialized into the person they will be
• Childhood is socially constructed and not a universal concept, as it means different things in different parts of the world
• Childhood experiences in other societies

  • In Bolivia, children as young as 5 took on work responsibilities in the home and community without hesitation
  • In the western Pacific, children did not automatically do as adults told them, but listened and decided whether to follow the advice
  • Malinowski- In the southwest Pacific, adults tolerated the sexual experimentation of young people and children
• Childhood in the Middle Ages

  Aries The idea of childhood did not exist, as children were seen as mini adults with the same rights, duties, and skills as adults
• In the Middle Ages, children often faced the same punishments as adults if they broke the law, with no leniency due to their young age
• Paintings from the 10th-13th centuries showed children as miniature adults, with no distinct characteristics of childhood
• Shorter- Parental attitudes towards children were different in the Middle Ages compared to now, with children being more peripheral members of society rather than the central focus
• Changes leading to the modern concept of childhood

  • Specialization of schools to educate the young
  • Separate clothing for adults and children
  • Emergence of handbooks and books on child-rearing
• Child-centeredness


  The modern view of childhood as a precious, important stage that comes before everything else
• Reasons for changes in the position of children in society

  • Declining family sizes
  • Rise of children's rights
  • Compulsory schooling
  • Focus on children's health
  • Child protection laws and policies
  • Lower infant mortality rates
  • Child labor laws
• March of progress view


  The position of children in Western societies has steadily improved over time, with children being more valued, better cared for, protected, and educated
• Conflict view


  Society is based on conflict between social groups, and children as an underpowered group are dominated by more powerful groups, leading to inequalities in their experiences and opportunities
• Inequalities among children exist based on factors such as nationality, gender, ethnicity, and social class