Childhood

• • Many Sociologists suggest childhood is socially constructed.
• PILCHER (1995) – SEPARATENESS IS MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF MODERN CHILDHOOD. IT’S A CLEAR & DISTINCT STAGE OF LIFE WHERE CHILDREN HAVE A SEPARATE STATUS FROM ADULTS
• • Children are seen to be in the 'golden age'.
  • This is where childhood is seen as a period of happiness and innocence
  • Children's lives are full of leisure and play rather than paid work like adults
• The golden age is also known as the ‘innocent child’. This means that children have no responsibilities, they don’t need to worry about money or bills.
• Golden Age - The idea that childhood is a happy time when children do not have any worries or stresses.
• • ARIES FOUND THAT CHILDHOOD DID NOT EXIST IN Older times (10TH TO 13TH CENTURIES – AFTER INFANCY, CHILDREN DID NOT NEED NURTURE FROM ADULTS
  • CHILDREN STARTED WORKING IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF ANOTHER FAMILY FOLLOWING WEANING
  • CHILDREN WERE TREATED AS ‘MINI-ADULTS’ – SAME RIGHTS, DUTIES & SKILLS – NO LEGAL DISTINCTION
• Reasons for Changes in the Position of Children:

  • LAWS EXCLUDING CHILDREN FROM PAID WORK – ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE
  • COMPULSORY SCHOOLING (1880) & INCREASES IN SCHOOL-LEAVING AGE
  • CHILD PROTECTION & WELFARE LEGISLATION – CHILDREN’S ACT 1989
  • CHILDREN'S RIGHTS E.G. UN CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF THE CHILD(1989)
  • LOWER INFANT MORTALITY RATES & SMALLER FAMILIES
• Dissapearing Childhood: Postman

  • Postman (1983) - childhood is only possible if children can be separated and protected from the adult world 
  • The mass media and TV have brought the adult world into the lives of children. 

  As a result the boundaries between the worlds of children and adults are breaking down.
• Postmodernist view on Childhood:

  • Jenks does not believe that childhood is disappearing but he does believe it is changing.
  • Jenks agrees with Aries that childhood was a creation of modern society.
• Changing Position of Children:

  
  

  • Some sociologists say position of children has steadily improved and today it is better than ever
  • Aries and Shorter hold a ‘march of progress’ view. Say that children today are better cared for and more valued with better education and more rights.
  • Evidence: Government spent an estimated £64 billion on education in 2007/8
• March of Progress view on position of children:

  • Babies live longer due to better healthcare and higher living standards
  • Family more child-centred – greater financial and emotional investment and aim to give them a better life than they had.
• Conflict view on the position of children:

  Marxists and Feminists - Conflict sociologists - believe ‘march of progress’ view is based on a false image that ignores inequalities. They criticise this view on 2 grounds:

  • Inequalities amongst children in terms of opportunities and risks they face – there are still many who are badly cared for.
  • Inequalities between children and adults are greater than ever: children experience greater control, oppression and dependency rather than greater care and protection
• Examples of inequality amongst children:

  • Nationalities – 90% of lowest birth-weight babies are born in developing countries
  • Class – Howard (2001) – Children born into poor families are more likely to die in infancy, suffer long – standing illness, be shorter in height, fall behind and school and be placed on the child protection register.
• Examples of inequality between children and adults (age patriarchy):

  • Neglect and Abuse; in 2006, 31,400 children were on child protection registers due to being at risk of serious harm, usually from their own parents.
  • Control over space – Children's movement is regulated e.g. some shops – ‘no schoolchildren’
• Palmer (2006) – Toxic childhood – Technology and culture damaging development e.g. food, computer games, marketing for children, parents working long hours.