Childhood

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  • Created by: 550444
  • Created on: 05-06-19 20:38
CHILDHOOD AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT
the modern western notion of childhood, cross cultural differences in childhood, globalisation of western childhood, historical differences in childhood
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The modern western notion of childhood
accepted in western societies that childhood is a separate stage of life to adulthood and children are physically and psychologically immature which is why we have laws that restrict what children do
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Cross Cultural differences in childhood
Benedict found that in non industrial cultures: less value is placed on children being obedient, children's sexual behaviour is often viewed differently
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The globalisation of western childhood
some sociologists argue western notions of childhood are being globalised, western norms of what childhood should be are being reflected on to other places
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Historical differences in childhood
Childhood is a recent 'invention', Aries argues that in the Middle Ages the idea of childhood did not exist. Children were not seen as having a different nature or having more needs than adults
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Reasons for changes in the position of children
laws restriciting children from paid work etc., compulsory schooling being introduced, child protection, declining family size means more investment into children
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THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN
the disappearance of childhood, childhood in postmodernity
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The disappearance of childhood
POSTMAN: trend towards giving children similar rights to adults, clothing becoming more similar, cases of children committing adult crimes
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Evaluation of Postman's disappearance of childhood theory
OPIE: argues postman overexaggerates things that make children and adults more similar such as television, argues there is strong evidence of childhood being seperated still
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Childhood in postmodernity
JENKS:childhood changing, relationships becoming more unstable so adults sense of identity is their children, more security placed on children
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Evaluation of Jenks childhood in postmodernity theory
limited evidence to support this, there is evidence that partners see their relationship more important with their children than with their partners but the evidence is not representative
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HAS THE POSITION OF CHILDREN IMPROVED?
march of progress view (child centred family, toxic childhood), conflict view (inequalities among children, control over children), the new sociology of childhood(the childs point of view)
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March of Progress view of has the position of children improved
argue in western countries over the past centuries the position of children has steadily improved, today's children are more valued
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March of progress view:the child centred family
higher living standards and smaller family sizes means parents can afford to provide for children's needs properly.
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March of progress view:toxic childhood
SUE PALMER:argues rapid technological and cultural changes have ruined children's development, these changes range from junk food, video games, growing emphasis on testing in education
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The conflict view of has the position of children improved
criticise the march of progress view by saying march of progress view is based on a false image that ignores important inequalities
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The conflict view:Inequalities among children
not all children share the same status or experiences, there are many inequalities between children such as ethnicity and gender. children of different nationalities often experience different childhoods and different life chances
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The conflict view:Control over children
there is control over children's space, time, bodies and access to resources, for example in shops there are signs that say no schoolchildren and children's daily routines are often controlled by adults
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The conflict view:control over childrens space
shops may display signs such as 'no schoolchildren' and children are told to play in some areas and forbidden to play in others.
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The conflict view:control over childrens time
adults regulate and monitor childrens daily routines such as when children need to get up and eat and go to school, adults also control the speed of what children grow up such as 'youre too young or too old for that now'
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The conflict view:control over childrens bodies
adults control how children sit,walk and run and what they wear, their haircuts, whether or not they can have their ears pierced
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The conflict view:the new sociology of childhood
point of view that sees children as active agents who play a major part in creating their own childhoods
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BIRTHS
reasons for the decline in birth rate, effects of changes in fertility,
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The total fertility rate
average number of children women will have during their fertile years
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Reasons for the decline in the birth rate
changes in women's position, decline in infant mortality rate, children are an economic liability, child centredness
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Effects of changes in fertility(number of babies born)
the family (smaller families mean women are more likely to go out to work), the dependancy ratio(children makeup large percent of the dependant population so less children reduces the burden of dependancy), public services and policies
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DEATHS
death rate is the number of deaths per thousand of the population per year
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Reasons for the decline in the death rate
improved nutrition, medical improvements, smoking and diet
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Life expectancy
how long on average a person is expected to live, as death rate has fallen, life expectancy has increased
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class, gender and regional differences in life expectancy
women expected to live longer then men, men in unskilled work three times more likely to die before men in materialistic jobs, those living in the north of the uk more likely to live longer than the south
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THE AGEING POPULATION
average age of the uk population is rising, fewer young people and more old people
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Effects of an ageing population
public services,one person pensioner households, the dependancy ratio
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The modern western notion of childhood

Back

accepted in western societies that childhood is a separate stage of life to adulthood and children are physically and psychologically immature which is why we have laws that restrict what children do

Card 3

Front

Cross Cultural differences in childhood

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

The globalisation of western childhood

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Historical differences in childhood

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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