Childhood is socially constructed as definitions vary between societies, within societies and historically.
Cross-cultural differences in childhood:
Benedict - children in simpler, non-idustrial societies are treated differently as they have more responsibility at home & work, less obedience is placed on obedience to adult authority, and children's sexual behaviour is viewed differently.
Childhood in the West:
childhood is seen as a special, innocent time of life.
children are seen as fundamentally different from adults so need a protected period of nurturing & socialisation.
Pilcher - childhood is a separate, distinct stage of life.
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Historical Differences in Childhood
Aries - in medieval Europe, the idea of childhood didn't exist.
Children were not seen as having a different 'nature' from adults.
Work began from an early age.
Children were 'mini-adults' with the same rights, duties & skills as adults.
Shorter - parental attitudes towards children were very different .
The modern notion of childhood began to emerge from the 13th century.
Schools began to specialise only in the education of the young.
The church increasingly saw children as fragile 'creatures of God' needing protection.
There was growing distinction between children's & adult's clothing etc.
Why has the position of children changed?
Lower infant mortality rates & smaller families.
Specialist knowledge about children's health.
Laws banning child labour.
Compulsory schooling.
Child protection & welfare laws.
The idea of children's rights.
Laws about social behaviour.
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The Future of Childhood
Postman - childhood is now disappearing as the television culture is replacing the print culture,
Print culture - children lacked literacy skills to access information so adults could 'protect' them from certain topics.
Television culture - information is available to adults & children so the boundary between them is broken down & adult authority weakened.
Opie - separate children's culture continues to exist in the form of games, songs etc.
Jenks - modern society created childhood to prepare the individual to become a productive future adult.
In postmodernity adults' relationships become more unstable so their relationship with their children becomes more important & they become more fearful of their safety, leading to more regulation.
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Has the Position of Children Improved?
March of Progress view:
Children's position has been steadily improving as family & society is child-centered.
Infant mortality rate has decreased (154 in 1900 to 4 now).
Higher standards of living & smaller family sizes.
Toxic Childhood:
Palmer - rapid technological & cultural changes are damaging children's development so they are deprived of a genuine childhood.
Conflict view:
Third World children have different life chances from those in the West due to gender, ehtnic and class inequalities.
Age Patriarchy:
Gittens - adult domination keeps children subordinate e.g control over time, space & bodies which can lead to abuse - resistance is shown by acting older.
The 'new sociology of childhood':
Seeing childhood as a social construct of industrialisation means children can be seen as passive objects.
Active agents - see children as playing an important role in creating their own childhoods.
Multiple childhoods - seeks to explore the many diverse childhoods that exist in society by taking a child's viewpoint.
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