Childhood

Front 1

Childhood as a social construct:

The modern western notion of childhood

Back 1

Pilcher (1995) says that the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Childhood is seen as a clear, distinct life stage, and is separate from adulthood. This is emphasised by the norms and laws of society. But as society treats younger people differently it also means that it is the norm to expect children to be more vulnerable and therefore protect them.

Front 2

Western notion continued

Back 2

Wagg (1992) says 'childhood is socially constructed. There is no single universal childhood that every child experiences. So childhood isn't natural and should be distinguished from biological immaturity.' This means that as different cultures define childhood differently even though the biological process is the same.

Front 3

Childhood as a social construct:

Cross-cultural differences

Back 3

Benedict (1934) says that children are generally treated differently in non-western places in three ways:

They take responsibility at an early age.

Less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult authority.

Children's sexual behaviour is often viewed differently.

Front 4

Childhood as a social construct:

Historical differences in childhood

Back 4

Philippe Aries (1960) says that in the Middle Ages, the idea of childhood as we know it did not exist. They were, in essence, just adults on a smaller scale. The laws gave the same punishments to children as it did adults and there was no distinction between a child and an adult but height.

Front 5

Historical Differences continued

Back 5

According to Aries however, the 13th century was when changes in childhood started appearing:

Schools were introduced, the education of children gave them a period of not working like adults.

There was a growing distinction between child and adult clothing. By the 17th century the upper classes had fully made this distinction.

By the 18th century, handbooks on childbearing were available wide-spread.

Front 6

Childhood as a social construct:

Reasons for changes in the position of children

Back 6

There are many reasons for the changes in the position of children. These changes in the 19th and 20th century made a large impact:

Laws restricting child labour.

Compulsory education in 1880.

Child protection and welfare legislation.

The growth of the idea of children's rights.

Declining family size and lower infant mortality rates.

Children's health and development.

Laws and policies that apply specifically to children.

Front 7

Has the position of children improved?

The march to progress view

Back 7

Aries and Shorter argue that today's children are more valued, better cared for, protected and educated, enjoy better health and have more rights that those of previous generations. March to progress sociologists say that society and the family has now become child-centred and children are no longer 'seen and not heard'. But instead they are the focal point of the family.

Front 8

Has the position of children improved?

The conflict view

Back 8

Conflict theorists such as marxists and feminists reject the march to progress view as they see society as being based on a conflict between social groups. They see children as having the same inequalities as society and they see the inequalities as being higher than ever.

Front 9

Inequalities among children

Back 9

Not all children share the same status or experiences. Children from different classes will experience different things in terms of wealth and even different genders will experience differences in terms of freedom with parents.

Front 10

Inequalities between children and adults

Back 10

March to progress writers argue that adults use their power over children as a positive thing to protect them. But Firestone and Holt claim that adults use this power as a new form of oppression and control.

Front 11

Neglect and abuse

Back 11

Adult control over children can take the extreme form of physical neglect or physical, sexual or emotional abuse. in 2006, 31,400 children were on child protection registers because they were deemed to be in danger from their parents. Childline receives over 20,000 calls a year from children for abuse.

Front 12

Control over children's space

Back 12

Shops may have 'no schoolchildren' signs. Children are only allowed to play in certain areas. Children's movements in society are highly regulated and controlled.

Front 13

Control over children's time

Back 13

Adults control children's time and their daily routines, including eating, sleeping, playing and going out. Adults also control the speed at which a child grows up.

Front 14

Control over children's bodies

Back 14

Adults have massive control over children's bodies with what they wear, piercings and hairstyles. They tell children not to pick their nose, suck their thumb or play with their genitals. This is contrasted with the Trobriand Islands where a child has complete freedom with their body.

Front 15

Control over children's access to resources

Back 15

Children have limited methods of earning money, so they have economical dependence on adults. Labour laws and compulsory schooling exclude them from all employment but minimal part time work. Although the state pays child benefit, this goes to the parent and not the child. Pocket money given by parents may depend on the child's behaviour and the parent may put restrictions on what it is spent on.

Front 16

Age Patriarchy

Back 16

Gittins (1998) says that age patriarchy is the inequality between adults and children. Just as feminists say patriarchy is the domination of males over females.

Front 17

The future of childhood: The disappearance of childhood

Back 17

Postman (1994) says that childhood is 'disappearing at a dazzling speed'.

During the middle ages children left childhood from an early age as most people were illiterate and only speech was needed for participation in the adult world.

TV blurs the distinction between childhood and adulthood by destroying the information hierarchy as TV doesn't need any skill to gain access.

Front 18

A separate childhood culture

Back 18

Opie (1993) argues that childhood is not disappearing. She argues that there is strong evidence of continued existence of childhood. This contradicts Postman's claim of a lack of childhood.

Front 19

The globalisation of western childhood

Back 19

Child liberationists argue that modern western childhood is oppressive. They also argue that, western notions of childhood are getting more and more globalised.