CHILDHOOD

• What is childhood according to Pilcher?

  Modern western perspective - The most important feature of childhood is ‘separateness’. Childhood is viewed as a distinct life stage and children occupy a separate status from adults.
• features of childhood in modern western culture

  cant work

  need to be cared for

  need to be socialised and protected

  lead lived of leisure and play

  Dress differently
• What does Aries argue?

  the idea of ‘childhood’ didn’t exist in the Middle Ages. There was no distinction between children and adult

  by the end of the 18th century the “modern cult of childhood” had developed - schools specialised purely in the young, children began to dress differently than adults, families became ‘child centred’
• What do sociologists argue about childhood?

  social aspects are defined and created by society.

  What “childhood” is and when it ends varies, both historically and culturally
• What does Postman aruge?

  Childhood is disappearing -

  children grow up very quickly now: in the past childhood was a time of innocence because only adults could read and access information on sex, violence, money, death ect

  Modern media allows everyone access to this information, blurring lines between children and adults

  56% of 11-16 year olds have seen explicit content online

  1/3 of 12-15 year olds encountered sexist, racist or discriminatory content online
• criticism of postman

  Opie - childhood is still distinct stage, financially and culturally

  childhood as a protected status is spreading (via globalisation) not disappearing
• what does Jenks argue?

  Childhood is changing -

  in post modern society family relationships are insecure and unstable.

  parent-child relationships are the only certainty.

  parents focus more on relationships with children and become fearful for their safety

  children are seen as vulnerable, resulting in more surveillance and regulation of their lived
• what do march of progress sociologists argue?

  Childhood is improving -

  today children are more valued, cared for, protected, educated and enjoy more rights than previous generations

  families have become child centres, parents invest more into their children both emotionally and financially

  Average child has £1700 worth of toys in their room

  time parents spends with kids has increased. 25 mins per day in 1975, 99 minutes in 2001
• what does Giddens say?

  Children can and should be able to answer back
• what does Palmer argue?

  Childhood is Toxic -

  rapid technological and cultural changed have damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development

  diet, lack of play and sleep, family changes, education changed, parenting changes, electronics have caused more cases of ADHD, dyslexia, autism, dyspraxia. attention span decreasing, children are distanced from others. increased mental health issues
• Cultural differences in childhood

  Benedict

  children in non-industrial societies are treated differently to western children:

  take responsibility at an early age

  less value placed on children showing obedience to adults

  children's sexual behaviour is often viewed differently
• children taking responsibility at an early age examples


  Central African Republic - children joined rebel groups

  Nepal - child labour, girls get marries and have children young, stress about finances as seen as their responsibility

  India and Bangladesh - children employed in factories doing dangerous work to provide for their family
• less value placed on children showing obedience to adults examples

  Central African Republic - children were not forced into the rebel groups, joined due to choice and wanted revenge

  Nepal - some children marry to avoid another marriage encouraged by their parents
• children's sexual behaviour is often viewed differently examples

  Nepal - girls encouraged to get married, as young as 12 and have children when they are still children themselves
• impacts of globalisation on childhood?

  don’t see family as often

  less extended, more nuclear

  more non-blood relatives

  joint conjugal roles

  multicultural/interracial relationships

  multigenerational families

  more multi person or lone person families
• gender inequalities among children

  boys perceived as smarter, resilient and stronger. girls are more protected and coddled

  toys are stereotyped, girls are often softer and more teddies whereas boys have action figures that involve movement

  girls expected to do more chores than boys
• social class inequalities among children

  middle class children are more protected

  working class grow up faster as more responsibilities

  more opportunities for middle class
• ethnicity inequalities among children

  Asian households more likely to be multigenerational

  different experiences due to religion

  racism directed towards non-white children
• disappearing childhood social policies

  compulsory education

  children act - rights, normally seen as an adult thing, more separated
• changing childhood social policies

  compulsory education

  the children act

  internet safety
• march of progress social policies

  education compulsory

  education reform

  internet safety

  the children act
• toxic childhood social policies

  compulsory education - more stress

  education reform act

  internet safety