Childhood

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  • Created by: kte10
  • Created on: 17-06-21 10:04
What was Pilcher's (1995) view on Childhood?
In western society today childhood is distinctly separate from adulthood
children are specially protected and regulated
they have a separate set of rights and responsibilities
1 of 16
Give some examples of how by law childhood is separate from adulthood
drinking age is 18
driving age is 17
you can get married at 16
have sex and children at 16
age of criminal responsibility is 10 but you won't go into adult prison until 25
2 of 16
How does western childhood differ from the rest of the world?
very young children work in very dangerous jobs- serve a child soldiers
the idea of children being protected is not a universal idea
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What was Wagg's (1992) view on childhood?
childhood must be understood separately from biological immaturity and there is no universal definition
children in different social groups and in different societies have completely different experiences of childhood
4 of 16
Summarise the findings of Aries study 'a century of childhood' and the methods he used
the concept of childhood is about 300 years old
before that humans took on adult roles as soon as they were physically able- little adults
Examined historic artwork to see how children were portrayed - medieval families showed children dressed the same a
5 of 16
What are some criticisms of Aries study?
Pollock- criticised his methods - just because it appeared that there was no concept of childhood doesn't mean there wasn't - can't tell from paintings
Paintings represent a tiny portion of the population - most likely the upper classes - they may have e
6 of 16
Explain Shorter's view on childhood and how it relates to the march of progress?
Contemporary childhood has a functional fit with a modern industrial economy - people need to be more educated and there was a need for lower infant mortality rates - progression to meet the needs of social change
7 of 16
how has families become more child focused? Why were families bigger in the past?
Family sizes have shrunk- more attention for the smaller no. of children, changing attitudes - children need to be nurtured and protected
partly due to the reduction in infant mortality
in the past people would have insurance children because of the hig
8 of 16
What did the Postmodernist Jenks say about childhood? (2005)
adults today focus more on their children and their relationship with their children as they are seen as more dependable than their adult relationships
there is a focus on a child's potential and their future, to be nostalgic about their lost childhood
9 of 16
What do child liberationists argue? Who are some examples of child liberationists?
laws actually oppress children
Gittens - adults force children to be dependent on them in order to maintain authority- preventing children from working - age patriarchy
Hockey and James - children see childhood as an oppressive stage of life
10 of 16
Summarise Palmer's toxic childhood
children are becoming obese because they don't play outside - exploited by advertisers about they false needs
early years are more school like rather than play like - targets and testing
education system leads to high levels of anxiety
children spend t
11 of 16
Summarise Postman's views on childhood
childhood is disappearing
children today grow up very quickly
the main driver of this is television
don't have to be adult/literate to access it
the media sexualises children and presents them as having the same interests, concerns as adults
the disti
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What are some criticisms of Postman?
childhood is expanding - compulsory education and the difficulty of young people buying or renting property- staying at home instead
Lee and Opie- still distinct financially and culturally - western culture of childhood is being exported globally
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How does social class impact childhood? +examples
Children who live in poverty are likely to have poor diet, poor housing - health conditions
higher incidences of neglect and neglect for the lowest income families - Howard (2001)
Sarah Womack- childhood is only toxic and dissapearing for children from lo
14 of 16
How does ethnicity impact childhood?
black and mixed race children are more likely to be in care
minority ethnic groups are more likely to be in lower income brackets - both factors impact childhood
Asian parents are often stricter with girls than boys - Brannen (1994)
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How does gender impact childhood?
Parents are often stricter on girls - more controlling - links to the amount of freedom a child may have - Hillman et al - boys can stay out after dark, cross roads and travel on their own at younger ages than girls
McRobbie and Garber - bedroom culture-
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Give some examples of how by law childhood is separate from adulthood

Back

drinking age is 18
driving age is 17
you can get married at 16
have sex and children at 16
age of criminal responsibility is 10 but you won't go into adult prison until 25

Card 3

Front

How does western childhood differ from the rest of the world?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What was Wagg's (1992) view on childhood?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Summarise the findings of Aries study 'a century of childhood' and the methods he used

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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