Childhood

Childhood

Socially Contructed
1. Cross Cultural Differences - Benedict argued: children non-industrial societies have more responsibility at home and work, less value placed on obedience and sexual behaviour is viewed differently. Separation between adult and child behaviour is less clear
2. Childhood in the West - an innocent time of life. Children are fundamentally different from adults. They need a lengthy protected period of nurturing and socialisation. Cunningham claims children are the opposites of adults with the right to happiness. Pilcher says the key feature in childhood is separateness
Historical Differences
1. Aries claims childhood in medieval Europe did not exist. Didn't have a different 'nature' to adults. Worked from an early age. They were 'mini-adults' with the same duties and skill
2. Shorter claims high child death rates encouraged indifference and neglect.
3. Modern notion of childhood emerged in the 13th century: schools specialised in education of the young. Church saw children as fragile creatures of God needing protection. Growing distinction between adults and children clothing causing separation
4. Why had the position of children changed? Lower infant mortality rates and smaller families / specialist knowledge of children's health / banning of child labour / compulsory schooling / child protectioand welfare laws / idea of child's rights / laws about social behaviour (minimum drinking age etc)
Improvement of Childhood?
1. March of Progress View: Aries and Shorter argue the position of children is improving. The family has become 'child-centered'. Better cared for educationally, psychologically and medically. Infant mortality rate dramatically improved. Higher living standards. Smaller families mean the parent can invest more financially and emotionally to the child. Protected from exploitation and harm with legislation
  1. Marxists and feminists argue this view is over-generalised and idealised image that ignores inequalities among children
2. Conflict View: Gender differences (e.g girls expected to do more housework). Ethnic Differences (e.g Asian parents more likely to be strict towards daughters than sons). Class inequalities (e.g poor children more likely to die in infancy or do badly at school). Firestone argues that extensive care and protection are new forms of oppression (e.g being banned from work forces them under the control of adults)
  1. Ignores how adults may use their power to benefit children (e.g passing laws against child abuse)
3. Age Patriarchy: Gittins argues there in an age patriarchy of adult domination that keeps children subordinate. They control time (e.g bed time), space (e.g where they can go). resources (e.g how long they can be online) and bodies (e.g what they eat and wear)
  1. Some resist by acting older by smoking and drinking etc.
Future of Childhood
1. Postman argues that childhood is disappearing and that children are becoming more like adults. They are gaining similar rights and act similarly (clothing, leisure, crime). This is the rexult of television culture replacing print culture which gives children the same information
  1. Opies believes childhood isnt disappearing as a separate childs culture continues to exist in the forms of games, songs, jokes etc
2. Toxic Childhood: Palmer argues that rapid technological and cultural change is damaging to child development. (e.g junk food, video games, intensive marketing). As a result children are deprived of a genuine childhood

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