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

Essay stucture;

PointExplanationEvidenceLink

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

Plenary

Key terms snake;

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

Mock tomorrow

Must gain a D grade to be entered for your January Exam

Otherwise you will sit this in the Summer alongside your Education paper