Childhood

Created by

Cerys

Cards (43)

what do sociologists see childhood as?
socially constructed
what does socially constructed mean?
something which is created and defined by society
what does childhood differ between?
different times , places and cultures
what is childhood accepted as in society?
a special time of life
what do children's lack of skills , knowledge and experiences mean?
they need a protected period of nurturing and socialisation before they are ready for adult society and its responsibilities
what does Pilcher say the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is?
separateness
what is an issue with childhood being seen as a golden age of happiness and innocence?
the innocence means that children are seen as vulnerable and in need of protection from the dangers of the adult world
how does childhood differ across the globe?
(1) where they are brought up (2) child labour (3) punishment methods (4) education (5) responsible for actions (6) appearance
what does Benedict argue?
children in simpler , non-industrial societies are treated differently from their modern western counterparts
how are children treated differently?
(1) they take responsibility at an early age (2) less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority (3) children's sexual behaviour is often viewed differently
what does Punch suggest about responsibility?
children take on tasks without question or hesitation
what does Holmes say about responsibility?
if a child thinks they can handle the activity , the parents don't object
what did Firth find?
doing as you're told by an adult is a concession to be granted by the child not a right to be expected as an adult
what did Malinowski find?
adults took an attitude of 'tolerance and amused interest' towards children's sexual explorations and activities
what is happening to western notions of childhood?
they are being globalised
what should childhood be like?
a distinct , separate life stage in which children are innocent , dependent , vulnerable and have no economic role
what do child liberationists argue?
modern western childhood is oppressive and children today are subject to adult authority
what did Aries and Shorter argue?
the idea of childhood did not exist in the Middle Ages
what were children referred to as?
mini-adults with the same rights , duties and skills as adults
what does Shorter argue about parental attitudes?
high death rates encouraged indifference and neglect
what happened with childhood in the middle ages?
it did not exist and children were seen as mini adults and treated the same
what happened with children in the 16th-18th centuries?
the concept of childhood began to develop and rich parents sent their children to schools and child labour was introduced for poorer families
what happened with childhood in the 19th century?
the Factory Acts banned the employment of children in mines and factories and state education was compulsory
what happened with childhood in the 20th-21st centuries?
separate degrees of childhood had been established and a development of experts specialising in children e.g. paediatricians
what are the criticism of Aries?
(1) Pollock - limited and unrepresentative sources (2) Pollock - during middle ages society had a different notion of childhood than today (3) Wilson - his work is present-centred and applies today's views to the past
what are the reasons for the changes in the position of childhood?
(1) laws have changed and now restrict child labour (2) economic asset to economic liability (3) education (4) child protection (5) the children's act 1989 (6) children's rights (7) decline in family size and lower infant mortality rates
what is the March of Progress view on childhood?
Aries and Shorter argue children are more valued , better cared for , protected and educated and the family is now more child-centred and have higher living standards due to smaller family sizes
what does Palmer say about toxic children?
rapid technological and cultural changes in the past 25 years have damaged children's physical , emotional and intellectual development
what are the evaluations of the MOP idea?
Margo and Dixon reported the UK youth are near the top of self harm , drug and alcohol abuse , violence and teenage pregnancies
what do conflict theorists say about childhood?
society is based on conflict between social groups and some have more power , status and wealth than others
what do conflict theorists say about the MOP idea?
say it is based on false and idealised images that ignore important inequalities among children and between children and adults
what are the 5 forms of control?
(1) neglect and abuse (2) control over space (3) control over time (4) control over bodies (5) control over access to resources
who uses the term 'age patriarchy'?
Gittens
what does Gittens say about age patriarchy?
inequalities between adults and children and that there is an age patriarchy of adult domination and child dependency
what do Humphrey's and Thiara say about childhood being oppressive?
a quarter of the 200 women they studied left their abusing partner because they feared for their children's lives
what do Hockey and James say about the 'acting up' idea?
acting like adults by doing things that children are not supposed to do
what do Hockey and James say about the 'acting down' idea?
behaving in ways expected of younger children is another strategy for resisting adult control
what are the criticisms of the age patriarchy?
child liberationists say that some control is justified on the grounds that children can't make rational decisions and so are unable to safeguard their interests themselves
what does Postman say about the disappearance of childhood?
it is disappearing as children are gaining the same rights as adults , dressing in the same way and committing 'adult' crimes
what are the evaluations of the disappearance of childhood?
(1) research shows there is still a separate life stage of childhood (2) it is not disappearing but it is changing