childhood

• Something that is created by social process, rather than ocuring naturaly
• When something is socially constructed it is likely to vary between different historical and cultural context
• Examples of things considered a scial construct are childhood, marriage and gender

• The number of marriaged in the last few years is increasing b about 5.3% between 2011 and 2012
• The avareage age of men when they get married is 36.5 and 34 for women
• 785,000 people who were married were not living togeher as a married couple; this was 3.7%of th married household population
• 145,000 people in households who were married and not living toghether were cohabiting with others

Populr views of childhood

• Childhod should be happy and is a phase of life all children will exprerience (not a social construct)

Sociological views

• Childhood is a social construct

-"Childhood is a distinct, seperate stage of life" , Pilcher 1995

- Chldhood is ften seen as a "golden age"

-"Childhood is socially constructed. There is no single, universal childhood expreienced by all childhood isnt natural" Wagg 1997

After WW2

• 1946 - Child benefits available through welfare state (universal and available to all)
• 1991 - Child support Act putting children first and ensuring their rights against abuse (e.g in a divorce situation who gest cusdody)
• 2004 - Children Act - "every child matters" matra focusing on child well being from age 0-19
• 2007 - Development of DCSF - department of children, school's and families
• 2013 - child benefit becomes means tested (not available to all)

Children are the focal point in the family unit in the 21st century britian

Parents spend twice as much time with their kids as they did in the 1960's

Children more likely to be consulted' "have a say" in big family decisions e.g mariage

• Paranoia of parents
• More danger/online danger
• The siza of families is smaller than ever, meaning more care and attention can be paid to individual children
• Shorter working week means more time to spend with children
• Higher standard of living means more disposable invome spent on children
• Policy focused on childrens issues (welfare state)
• Development of "specialists" in children
• Parental fears and moral panics about "stranger danger"

• In medieval times chldhood did not exsit, children seen as "little adults"
• Children would move from infacy into working roles
• Children would work the same hours as adults