Status of children

• Donzelot = children need to be protected and supervised
• Child liberationists = believes society oppresses children

  • Gittens = age patriarchy, control over children sometimes leads to abuse and neglect
  • Hockey and James = childhood was a stage most children wished to escape and resist
• Childhood has changed due to:

  • Education = extended period of dependency for children on parents for financial support
  • Children have easy access to adult media, parents become more protective
  • Relationships = economic asset > product of emotional attachment
  • Media saturation and capitalism = active consumers due to advertising promoting consumption of goods and pester power
• Cawson et al = 16% of under 16 have experienced sexual abuse, 25% experienced physical violence
• Children's act, 1989 = allows state to take children away from parents if judged incapable