Childhood as a social construct

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  • Created by: Holly3
  • Created on: 27-01-15 10:07
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  • Childhood as a Social Construct
    • The modern western notion of childhood
      • Pilcher- the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Seen as a life stage and occupies a separate status from adults.
      • Laws regulate what children are allowed, required and forbidden to do.
      • Wagg- "childhood is socially constructed... there is no single universal childhood experienced by all"
    • Cross-cultural differences in childhood
      • Benedict- children in simpler, non industrial societies are generally treated differently in 3 ways.
        • Take responsibility at an early age. Holme- study of samoan village- 'too young was never a reason for not letting a child do something
        • less value placed on children obeying adults
        • Children's sexual behavior viewed differently
  • Historical differences in childhood
    • Aries- in the middle ages 'the idea of childhood did not exist'. Children were not seen as having different needs from adults. They began work at an early age
    • Many sociologists and historians argue that childhood as we understand it now is a fairly recent 'invention'
    • Childhood as a Social Construct
      • The modern western notion of childhood
        • Pilcher- the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Seen as a life stage and occupies a separate status from adults.
        • Laws regulate what children are allowed, required and forbidden to do.
        • Wagg- "childhood is socially constructed... there is no single universal childhood experienced by all"
      • Cross-cultural differences in childhood
        • Benedict- children in simpler, non industrial societies are generally treated differently in 3 ways.
          • Take responsibility at an early age. Holme- study of samoan village- 'too young was never a reason for not letting a child do something
          • less value placed on children obeying adults
          • Children's sexual behavior viewed differently

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