childhood
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- Created by: Laurentylerxxx
- Created on: 13-03-18 17:27
childhood as a social construct
- no universal truth regarding the view of childhood
- it is created and defined by society
- rather than simple biological state
- ideas about childhood vary between different cutures, societies and historical periods
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pre-industrial society
- incertainty of age meant people were not seen in terms of biology, but thier physcial apperearence, habits and abilities
- children erre 'little adutls'
- they toom part in the same work and acivities as adults
- toys and games specific to children did not exist
- children could be punished for crimes in the same way adults were
- a 7 year old could be hung for stealing
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industrialisation
- children from working class families still worked in mines, factories and mills
- many children were killed or injured
- an econimic necessity to most families
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mid- 19th century
- adults became more concerned with chldren who were begging
- children banned from working in factories and mines
- compulsory education for children age 5-12 introduced in 1880
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20th century
- emergence of child-centred society
- improved standard of living
- major declines in infant mortality
- increased availability of contraception
- couples can choose to have fewer children
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the modern family
- very child centred, oftern putting needs and wishes of children before adults
- not moving house while children are in school
- parents forgo many things to get thier children all they want for christmas
- moving house to get thier children into better schools
- holidays are often based around childrens need rather than the adults desires
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child centred society
- have thier own toys, tv programmes/channels, play areas especially for them
- children are provied with education
- have thier own doctors, teachers etc. to care for them
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factors that enforce child-centred society
- smaller families- more resources to spend on children
- reduced working week-more time with kids
- increased affluence- families earning more, more desposable income
- welafrare state- provides support and protection for children
- paediatrics- doctors/ medicine dedicated to children
- parenting books- specific advice on how to look after children
- compulsory education- longer dependancy on parents
- leisure activities- specifically aimed at children
- parental fears- childlren and 'risk' (usually unjustified)
- consumerism- companies aiming products at children
- entertainment- music, films, tv, channels etc.
- laws- child protecion laws
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the march of progress view
- postition of children in western societies has been steadily improving
- better today than it has ever been
- aries- today children are better cared for, better protected and educated
- enjoy better health and have more rights than previous generations
- parents more invested in thier children, both emotionally and financially
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the conflict view
- marxists and feminist dispute the march of progress view
- argue it is based on false and idealised images
- ignores important inequalities
- it ignores inequalities among children
- ignores inequalities between childre and adults
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inequalities between children and adults
- march of progress view sees the power adults have over children as a positive thing
- translated into laws
- conflict theorists see pwoer as a form of oppression and control, making children powerless, dependant and reliant on others
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unhappy children
- Womack (11)- children in britain are the unhappiest in the west
- teenage pregnancy highest in Europe
- poor family connections, poverty and exposure to drugs and alcholo
- marg0 (06)- children spend more time with peer groups than adultsa and parents
- children not able to escape unhappy life due to restirictions on paid work etc.
- police records indicate that over 3000 crimes are committed by children under the age of 10
- approx 75000 school-age children enter the youth justice system
- under-age drinking, drug and anti-social behaiour all suggest the family is not the child-centred, safe haven that soem sociologists imply
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neglect and abuse
- dark side of the family
- parents control thier children through physical, emotional and sexual abuse
- 2010 report stated that 31% of young people eperience sibiling abuse
- sex trafficking
- child prostitution
- child ***********
- child soldiers
- organ trafficking
- refugees
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disappearing childhood
postman argues
- growth of tv means there are no more secrets from children
- tv gives them ultimate access to the adult world
- social blurring- little disinction bwtween adults and children
- childrens games disappearing
- they speak, dress and act more like adults
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who has the most influence on your life
silva (96)
- roles of parents are diminishing in the face of new influences
- most children have thier own rooms, tvs, laptops, phones etc
- controlling access/content of social media and behaviour is increasingly difficult
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parental control
- brooks (01) criticises postman
- evidence suggests that adults are taking more and more control of their childrens lives
- cotton wool society
- parents are more obsessed with saftey
- ever more concerned with defining boundaries for their kids
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toxic childhood
- sue palmer (07)
- expresses similar viewpoint to postman
- rapid technology and cutural changes are harming children
- parents are spending less time with their children
- are happy toalow technology to occupy thier childrens upbringing
- children are deprived of taditional childhood and family life
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