CHILDHOOD
‘children should be seen and not heard’
Childhood Vs Adulthood
Note down as many words as you can that you associate with childhood and adulthood
2 minutes
EG – FUN, GAMES…
EG – OLD, RESPONSIBILITY….
Socially construction of childhood
For sociologists childhood is socially constructed
Created and defined by society
What people mean by childhood and the position that children occupy in society, is not fixed, it differs between different times, places and cultures
Common beliefs about childhood
Read through the following statements do you agree / disagree?
Children are fundamentally different from adults
Physically & psychologically immature
Not competent to run their own lives They need a long period of
socialising and care before they are ready for adult society
Childhood is separate to
adulthood, it is a clear and distinct
stage
Separateness of childhood
Suggest 3 examples of ways in which childhood is seen as ‘a clear and distinct life stage’
Dress Play Regulations (laws) Innocence/vulnerable Kept ‘quarantined’
Social construction of childhood
‘Childhood is socially constructed. It is in other words, what members of societies, at particular times and in particular places, say it is. There is no single universal childhood, experienced by all.’
Stephen Wagg 1992
Variation of childhood over time…
How do you think childhood has varied over time?
What was it like to be a child in the middle ages (1100 – 1400)?
Philippe Aries (1960) Historian
Middle ages childhood did not exist
Children – ‘mini adults’ Same rights, duties and skills Law often made no distinction Used art to support his ideas
Now we live in a society obsessed with childhood – ‘cult of childhood’
Variation of childhood in different places…
How does childhood vary culturally Different countries, different
cultures?
T-P-S
Cross cultural differences in childhood
Laws and regulations? UK Vs Europe & US
Non industrial societies
• They take responsibility at an early age
• Less value is placed on children showing obedience to adult
authority
•Children’s sexual behaviour is often viewed differently
Child Soldiers
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SBcNMzQvvhU
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hNnXGV4KjEw
Note down key statistics you can use in your essay as you watch the clip
What do these images tell us about childhood around the world?
Examples of cross-cultural differences in childhood
Rural Bolivia – children expected to work once they are 5, they take on this task without question/hesitation
So is childhood in contemporary Britain society positive for everyone?
YES – ‘March of progress’ sociologists
No conflict theory –
Marxist & Feminist
sociologists
Some quick UK facts
By the time a child reaches their 21st birthday they will have cost their parents an average of £186, 000
The government spends an estimated £64 Billion on education
In 1900 the infant mortality rate was 154 per 1000 births, today it is 5 per 1000
March of progress view
Aries (1960) & Shorter (1975) Today’s children are;
more valued better cared for Protected & educated Enjoy better health Have more rights
What evidence is there to support their view?
Evidence for the ‘march of progress view’;
Children are protected from harm and exploitation by laws against child abuse & child labour (1989 UN Rights of a child)
Specialists look after their educational, psychological & medical needs (64 billion spent on education)
Babies have a much higher chance of survival
Higher living standards & smaller family sizes
Family & society has become ‘Child-centred’
Has the position of children improved?
The ‘march of progress’ view is that the position of children has improved dramatically in a relatively short space of time. However conflict
sociologists such as Marxists and
feminists dispute this
The conflict view
The march of progress view is based on a false and idealised image that ignores important inequalities
There are inequalities among children in
terms of the opportunities and
risks they face: many today remain
unprotected and badly cared for
The inequalities between children
and adults are greater than ever:
children today experience
greater control, oppression and
dependency
Neil Postman (1983)The end of childhood?
Childhood is only possible if children can be protected from the adult world.
Mass media have brought the adult world into the lives of children. Secrecy has been wiped out by TV.
The boundaries between the worlds of children and adults are breaking down – this means the end of childhood.
Postman - Dual status
Postman has been criticised for exaggerating.
TV and media have brought adult concerns into the lives of children, but childhood is not disappearing.
E.g. Children have become a major economic force
Lee - childhood has not disappeared, it has become more complex and ambiguous.
Possible essay question - Childhood
Assess the view that the position of childhood has improved in contemporary society (30 marks).
Has the position of children improved?
Work in pairs to complete your planning grid – looking over your notes and writing them in either the for/against column
Key points – arguments for/against
Evidence – statistics / sociologists
Assess the view that the position of childhood has improved in contemporary society P – ‘March of progress’ sociologists believe
that the position of children has improved dramatically
E – They believe that compared to childhood in previous centuries in the 2oth century children have a much more positive experience
E – Shorter 1975 argues that today’s children are better cared for protected and educated. This can be seen in that the government now spends an estimated 64 million on education.
L – By spending a number of years in education children in today’s society do not have to work and are therefore able to enjoy their childhood making it a more positive experience
Assess the view that the position of childhood has improved in contemporary society
P-However conflict sociologists disagree, they highlight that even in contemporary British society childhood is not positive for everyone.
E- Abuse E- Statistics – Handout NSPCC L
Assess the view that the position of childhood has improved in contemporary society
P- It can also be argued childhood varies and is experienced differently in different cultures and countries (cross cultural variation).
E – Not all children have a positive experience it is dependent on the country they are born in.
E - In Bolivia children are expected to work from the age of 5 and in some countries in Africa children become soldiers as young as 5 & 6.
L – For children in these situations today their position has not improved. However the UN Rights of a Child Act- 1989 has tried to improve the experience of all children worldwide.
Assess the view that the position of childhood has improved in contemporary society
P - Due to media exposure, some sociologist argue that childhood innocence does not last vey long and children are becoming exposed to the adult world too soon.
E - E – Neil Postman argues that the
Media mean childhood is no longer protected
L
Childhood essay plan
In groups using your notes construct a plan as to how you would tackle this question using the PEEL format
Studies tables
Using your notes complete your studies tables for the studies we have covered so far…
Key studies; Postman Phillipe Aries
Add in any additional studies/criticism from you handout