childhood

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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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