Childhood pt2

Has the position of children improved?

1) March of Progess- it has improved

2) Conflict view- it has not improved

1) March of Progess

Writers such as Aries and Shorter argue that todays children are more valued, better cared for, protected and educated, enjoy better health and have more rights. Examples include laws that protect children from harm and the wide array of professionals and specialists who cater for the educational, psychological and medical needs of children.

Government spends an estimated £64 billion on children education in 2007/08. Lower mortality rate (3.8 per 1000); higher living standards and smaller family sizes. The March of Progess socilogists argue that the family has become more child centred. Children are the focal point of the family. Parents invest a great deal in their children emotionally as well as financially and have higher aspirations for their children. Also, the whole of society has become child-centred. 

2) Conflict

Such as marxists and feminists dispute the claims of the march of progess view which they argue is based on a false and idealised image that ignores important inequalities. 

Childrens lives have not improved; there are inequalities among children in terms of the opportunities and risks they face, and the…