changes in children's position

• reasons for changes in positions of children

  -laws restricting child labour & excluding children from paid work

  -introduction of compulsory schooling

  -child protection & welfare legislation

  -growth of the idea of children's rights

  -declining family size & lower infant mortality rates

  -children's development became subject of medical knowledge

  -laws & policies that apply specifically to children
• how did laws restricting child labour & excluding children from paid work change children's position?

  -no longer economic assets who earn wages

  -children become economic liability that're financially dependent on family
• how did compulsory schooling change children's position?

  extended period of dependency
• how did child protection & welfare legislation change children's position?

  -made welfare of children fundamental principle underpinning work of agencies such as social services
• how did the growth of idea of children's rights change children's position?

  -the 'Children Act' defines parents as having 'responsibilities' rather than 'rights'

  -United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child lay down basic rights (entitlement to healthcare & education, protection from abuse, right to participate in decisions affecting them > custody cases)
• how did declining family sizes & lower infant mortality rates change children's position?

  -encouraged parents to make greater financial & emotional investment in fewer children

  -child centeredness
• how did children's development become subject to medical knowledge change children's position?

  -Donzelot observes how theories of child development began to appear from 19th century stressed that children need supervision & protection
• how did laws & policies applying specifically to children change children's position?

  (such as minimum ages for wide range of activities, sex, smoking)

  -reinforced idea that children are different to adults

  -so different rules must apply
• industrialisation 


  -shift from agriculture to factory production as basis of economy

  -sociologists agree this process underlies many of the changes to children's position