Childhood (Topic 4)
- Created by: lou9119
- Created on: 22-05-17 13:41
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- Childhood
- View of childhood:
- Innocent and vulnerable. It is a clear and separate period of life. A privileged time of life in western countries. They are protected by many laws. Sociologists would argue that the identity and status of children have been created by society and not by biological immaturity.
- =Social construction: something that is created or influenced by members of society and they only exist because of this.
- Evidence:
- the differing status, responsibility and treatment of children in different cultures.
- 28% of children across the world are involved in work.
- Child soldiers.
- Child trafficking.
- how the status of children has changed throughout history.
- Philippe Aries: showed that, in medieval times, childhood did not exist as a separate status.
- Child labour commonly practiced and accepted.
- 'seen and not heard'
- children's differing status in the same society
- Inequalities based on social class, ethnicity and sometimes gender.
- the differing status, responsibility and treatment of children in different cultures.
- Evidence:
- =Social construction: something that is created or influenced by members of society and they only exist because of this.
- Innocent and vulnerable. It is a clear and separate period of life. A privileged time of life in western countries. They are protected by many laws. Sociologists would argue that the identity and status of children have been created by society and not by biological immaturity.
- Child-centerdness
- Causes:
- Higher living standards
- Welfare support
- Legal rights
- Minister for children and children's commissioner
- Paediatrics and emphasis on parenting skiis.
- Compulsory schooling
- Fear for child safety.
- Smaller families.
- Children's consumer market
- Shorter working weeks.
- Causes:
- Has the position of children improved or worsened?
- Inequalities:
- Not always treated equally to parents and not cared for.
- Legal controls, marriage, voting, cars, working, sex, goods, games etc.
- Unhappy Children:
- 1/3 of 16 year-olds living away from biological fathers.
- Child poverty.
- Child abuse.
- ChildLine has seen an increase in those contacting for help.
- Sibling abuse.
- Inequalities:
- Is childhood disappearing?
- Postman: He argues that n the distinction between adults and children is disappearing, and that there is a merging taste in behaviour, language and attitudes.
- Cunningham: parental authority is being undermined by children having pocket money.
- Silva: role of parents diminishing due to the growing importance of peers and teachers.
- Margo: the average age of first sexual intercourse fell from from early 20s to 16. Concern for the sexualisation of childhood.
- View of childhood:
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