Childhood

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  • Created by: Om4r
  • Created on: 26-05-19 16:53
What is the Western Notion of Childhood?
Children are fundamentaly different from adults, both physically and psychologically immature and lack skills and experience
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What does Wagg argue about childhood?
It is socially constructed and not a universal concept, it means different things in different parts of the world
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What did Punch find about the cultural differences in childhood?
Children in Bolivia as young as 5 take work responsibilities in the home and local communities without hesitation
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What did Holmes find about the cultural differences in childhood?
In a Somoan Village, there's no concept of 'too young', children use dangerous tools and carry heavy loads. If the children think they can do it, parents let them
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What did Firth find about the cultural differences in childhood?
Children in Tikopia of the western pacific don't automatically do they're told by adults, child decides whether to listen to elders
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What did Malinowski find about the cultural differences in childhood?
Adults of the Tobriand islanders of the South-west pacific didn't view the sexual activities of young people and children with digust but tolerated their experimentation compared to here in the west
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What does Aries argue about the Historical differences in Childhood?
In the middle ages 10th-13th centuries the idea of childhood didn't exist and children were seen as having the same rights and responsibilities as adults
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What does Aries argue occurs after being weaned?
The child would contribute to the society almost as much as an adult would, seen as equal in the eyes of law and would be punished the same
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What evidence does Aries use to support his argument of Historical differences in Childhood?
Uses art, specifically paintings as evidence. Pointing out that there is no evidence of childhood, adults and children dressed the same and both worked, only difference is the size on the painting
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What is the Problem with using paintings as evidence?
They only show a Snapshot of a moment in time, there's no context so they could be acting for all we know
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What does Shorter argue encouraged the indifference between children and adults?
High death rates and neglect especially towards infants, parents would often name a newborn after a child who has passed away
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How were children viewed in the Pre-industrial society?
As economic assets and mini-adults, Toys and Games specifically for children didn't exist
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According to Aries, when did elements of the modern notion of childhood start to emerge?
From the 13th Century onwards
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What elements started the Modern notion of childhood?
Schools started to specialise in educating the young, clothing became separate and child-centredness started to occur
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What is an example that shows child-centredness began to occur?
Handbooks on child rearing started becoming popular
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What does Aries argue we have moved from?
A world where childhood wasn't seen as special at all to a world obsessed with childhood
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How does Pollock Criticise Aries?
Argues that in the Middle Ages, society simply had a different view of childhood
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What Reasons are there for the change of the position of childhood in society?
Declining family sizes, Introduction of Childrens rights, Introduction of Compulsory education, lower infant mortality rates, Laws excluding children from working
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Why has the decline in family sizes changed the position of children in society?
More money to spend on less children which puts more value on that child
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What shows that the position of children has not improved?
Inequalities among children, not all have the same life experiences or opportunities
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What factors create inequalities between children?
Nationality, Gender, Ethnicity and Class
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How may Nationality create inequalities amongst children?
Where you were born will affect your life. E.g. Born in UK v.s Zimbabwe will have different opportunities
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How may Gender create inequalities amongst children?
Boys and Girls are socialised differently. Boys generally have more freedom
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How may Ethnicity create inequalities amongst children?
Asian families are often more strict than European families due to culture so children live by different rules
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How may Class create inequalities amongst children?
Working Class children materially deprived compared to Middle Class
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What do March of Progress sociologists argue about inequalities between children and adults?
Adults use their power to protect children
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What do conflict sociologists argue about inequalities between children and adults?
Adults use their power to oppress children, protection is a form of oppression
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What does Firestone argue about child labour laws?
They actually segregate children, keep them dependent and subject to adult control
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What % statistic is an example of inequality between children due to nationality?
90% of babies born with a low birth weight are babies born in developing countries
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What gender differences between children does Hillman point out?
Boys are more likely to cross or cycle on roads and be allowed to use buses and go out unaccompanied at night
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What are the 4 elements of childrens lives do Adults control?
Their space, time, bodies and access to resources
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In what ways are children's spaces controlled?
No school children signs in news agents, road safety and stranger danger, more control over children's travel to and from school
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In what ways are children's bodies controlled?
Hair style, ear piercing and tattoos controlled, told when to wash when/what to eat and dress. They may be physically disciplined and told off for nail biting and nose picking etc.
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In what ways do adults control children's time?
They control their daily routines, e.g. school and teachers tell them what to do, speed of growing up is controlled e.g. access to films and information
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IN what ways do adults control children's access to resources?
Limited ability to earn money due to labour laws, means they're dependent on adults, Compulsory schooling, Pocket money controlled, also control what they do with their pocket money
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How does Neglect and abuse control children?
Physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse keeps them controlled
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What does Postman argue?
Childhood is disappearing at a dazzling speed
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How is childhood disappearing according to Postman?
Children have the same rights as adults, similarities in clothing and children are committing 'adult' crimes and leaving children unsupervised
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What does Postman argue is the reason for the emergence and disappearance of childhood?
It's due to the rise and fall of print culture and its replacement by television culture
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How did Print culture cause the emergence of Childhood?
Children can't read as much as adults, so adults had the power to keep knowledge of sex, violence and other adult topics so childhood became associated with innocence and ignorance
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How is the rise of Television Culture causing the disappearance of childhood?
Tv is blurring the lines between childhood and adulthood by destroying the information hierarchy, children don't need specialist skills to access it.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What does Wagg argue about childhood?

Back

It is socially constructed and not a universal concept, it means different things in different parts of the world

Card 3

Front

What did Punch find about the cultural differences in childhood?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What did Holmes find about the cultural differences in childhood?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What did Firth find about the cultural differences in childhood?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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