CHILDHOODCHILDHOOD??

CHILDHOODCHILDHOOD??SPECIFICATIONSPECIFICATION

The nature of childhood, and changes in the status of children in the family and society.

Our Our ViewsViews

CHILDCHILD ADULTADULT

Why are they different?

The ‘Modern Western’ view of childhood

The child is fundamentally different from adults:

– Immature– Incompetent – Lack skills, knowledge and

experience– Need protection & socialisation– Innocent

Pilcher, 1995Pilcher, 1995 Cildhood is a clear and distinct life stage,

reflected in:• Laws • Dress• Products and services • Age of innocence – vulnerable, need protection• Sphere - Family and the education system. • Activity - Leisure and play.

Natural?Natural?

Biological?Biological?

Universal?Universal?

Stable?Stable?

SOCIALLY SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTEDCONSTRUCTEDChildhood is not a biological stage of

immaturity or a natural state.

Childhood is something created and defined by society.

What is meant by childhood, and the position that children occupy in society, is not fixed or uiversal.

It differs between different times, places, groups and cultures.

FIRTH FIRTH (1963)(1963)Pacific Island of

Tikopia

Children are allowed to do dangerous things when THEY feel ready.

e.g. Fishing in the open sea and handling sharp objects

Obedience to adults is a concession rather than expected

Child Child SoldiersSoldiers

Child Child MarriageMarriage

Afghanistan Economist Report

The spiritual and political ruler of Tibet through the years. First as a four-year-old peasant child about the time he was chosen Dalai Lama, as a 15-year-old wearing a gold peaked cap that is his crown and during a 1956 visit to India.

SOUTH AMERICAN STREET CHILDREN

• The Ik Tribe suffer famine• view children as a drain on resources. • They think they should be made to fend

for themselves as soon as they possibly can. This may mean from the age of 3.

THE IK OF THE IK OF UGANDAUGANDA

What differences have you identified between your meanings and experiences of childhood and those in other societies?

Cross Cultural Experiences of Childhood

Benedict, 1934, [comparative approach].

3 distinct differences between modern ‘western’ children and children from simpler, non industrial societies

– Earlier Responsibility (Holmes – Samoa)– Less Obedience to Adult Authority

(Firth - Tikopia) – Sexual Behaviour (Malinowski – Trobriand

Islands)

TOWNSEND et al TOWNSEND et al (2003)

Study of 46 developing countries 1.2 million children:-• Over 33% of the world’s children live in absolute poverty• Over 33% of all children live with more than 5 people per

room• 134 million children aged 7 – 18 have never been to

school• Over 375 million children have no access to water• Many children live in countries affected by civil wars• Children in developing countries are more at risk from

infectious diseases – typhoid, malaria.• Every day 3000 people in the developing world will die

from malaria – 2225 will be children• 500,000 children under the age of 18 have been

recruited as child soldiers

HISTORY HISTORY OF OF CHILDHOOCHILDHOODD

Historical context

• We tend to think of childhood as a special time

• We tend to think of children as vulnerable beings who must be taken care of

• We tend to think of parenting as an important job that must be done well

However:-

This has not always been the case

Childhood is a recent Childhood is a recent inventioninvention

Aries (1962)

Used paintings to explore childhood in pre-industrial societies and argues that once weaned, children were simply considered ‘little adults’ and an economic asset. High infant mortality rates encouraged indifference and neglect.

• Can you see any problems with Aries methods?• Can you see any problems with his conclusions

Pre- industrial society C10-Pre- industrial society C10-C13thC13th

[Aries][Aries]• Same work – fields &

home

• Same clothes

• Same leisure

• Same rights

• Same skills

• Same punishments

• No distinction in law

An accurate view?

Beginnings of childhood C13 –Beginnings of childhood C13 –C18C18

[Aries][Aries]• Public schools for rich children

• Church – children in need of protection & discipline

• 17th century U/C boys dress

INDUSTRIALISATION C18-INDUSTRIALISATION C18-19th19th

• Widespread child labour

• M/C focus on children

• Campaigns against child begging, delinquency & prostitution

INDUSTRIALISATION C18-INDUSTRIALISATION C18-19th19th

• C19th – Mines & Factory Acts

• 1870 compulsory elementary schooling

• Children should be seen and not heard

• Child specialists – paediatricians

• A right to happiness

MODERN CHILDHOOD C20thMODERN CHILDHOOD C20th

CHILD-CENTRED

REASONS FOR CHANGES IN THE REASONS FOR CHANGES IN THE POSITION OF CHILDRENPOSITION OF CHILDREN

Trobe P31

1. Laws e.g. employment, rights, social services, minimum ages.

2. Schooling

3. Demographic changes – family size, infant mortality

4. Medicine

5. Mass media*

6. Economic changes

MIND MAPMIND MAPMake a mind map which briefly explains &

illustrates the following info:

1. Childhood as a social construction

2. Child-centred society

3. 3 characteristics of modern child hood

4. 3 ways in which child hood differs in different societies

5. 3 ways in which childhood has changed

6. 3 reasons for changes in childhood

7. 3 pieces of evidence you could use to support the idea of childhood as socially constructed

EXAM PRACTICEEXAM PRACTICE

1. Explain what is meant by ‘child hood is a social construction’ (2)

2. Suggest 2 ways in which childhood has become a specially privileged & protected time of life (4)

3. Suggest 2 ways in which the position of children could be said to have improved in the last 100 years (4)

AnswersAnswers

1. Shaped by culture/created by society – not natural or biologically constructed.

2. E.g. – Not allowed to work in paid employment until 13.– Laws to protect children from abuse e.g. The

Children Act

3. E.g.– Access to education– Improved health - immuniasation

BUT Is it this simple?BUT Is it this simple?

UUNNIICCEEFF

22001111

Methods in ContextMethods in ContextDesign an interview schedule for

use with children to find out about their health and well-being.

Think about:

− The age group

− The language you will use

− The types of questions you will ask

− Where & how the interview will be conducted

− The ethical issues & how you will deal with these

LSE TIPS

HOMEWORK - RESEARCHHOMEWORK - RESEARCH

Prepare to teach one of the following topics, including: description, illustration and evaluation the following views:

• The March of Progress View (Aries & Shorter)

• The Conflict View (Marxists & feminists)• Disappearing Childhood (Postman)• Toxic Childhood (Palmer)

DEBATEDEBATE

‘‘CHILDREN IN CHILDREN IN TODAY HAVE TODAY HAVE NEVER HAD IT NEVER HAD IT

SO GOOD’SO GOOD’

The functionalist view of childhood

Functionalists view childhood as a crucial process in the modern family.

It is when the young person is socialised into being a useful member of society. This involves the child learning the norms and values of their culture.

As society becomes more complex the time spent completing this process lengthens

The Marxist view of childhood

Capitalists need people to buy the goods it produces.

Bocock (93) claims modern childhood facilitates capitalist goals by creating new consumers.

According to the Marxist perspective this is why we have a new construct of childhood In the western world – children are ‘consumers’.

Give examples – what do teenagers buy

The Marxist view cont…This view of childhood explains one of the anomalies that sociologists have noted.

There are regular moral panics regarding child pornography while at the same time we allow children of 14 to model provocative clothes and there is a growing market for fairly provocative girls clothes and underwear

Write half a side of A4 to explain this using Marxist ideas outlined above

Conclusion Archard (1993) ‘In our common sense thought childhood is based upon a notion of separateness from adulthood. Children are not adults they are separate from adults and need to grow up to be able to join the adult world. Children must be protected from the adult world and at the same time taught how best to fit into it.’

BUT…Is this the same for ALL children?

Quick ReviewQuick Review• Social construction• Child centred• March of Progress• Age patriarchy• Child liberationist• Acting up/down• Toxic childhood• Information hierarchy• Globalisation• Disappearing

childhood• Continuing childhood

• Postman• Palmer• Opie• Aries• Hockey & James• Bonke• Bhatti• Howard• Pilcher• Townsend

USING SOCIOLOGYUSING SOCIOLOGY

As experts in childhood. You have been asked to advise the government on policies affecting children – laws, education, welfare, media controls, health guidelines etc.

What advice would you give and why?