Childhood

Created by: emilyisblue
Created on: 22-04-15 14:31

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CHILDHOOD
- The Change in the Position of Children
  - March to Progress View.
    - Believes that over the last few centuries the position of children has changed positively.
    - Argue that today children are more valued, better cared for, protected, educated and have better health rights.
      - Better healthcare and living standards mean higher chance of survival.
      - Laws protect them from harm and explotation.
      - Higher living standards and smaller family sizes (5.7 births 1860s- 1.84 births 2006) increase survival chances.
    - The Family Has Become Child-Centered.
      - Children are the focal point of the family.
      - Parents invest a lot of time into their child emotionally and economically.
      - Have high aspirations for their children.
  - The Conflict View
    - Inequalities among children.
      - Not all children share the same status or experiences.
      - Gender differences - boy are more likely to be able to go out alone before girls. Girls do more do
      - Ethnic Differences - Asian parents more likely to be strict.
      - Class Differences - Children of laborers more likely to suffer from hyperactivity.
        poor mothers have low birth weight which leads to delayed physical and intellectual development.
    - Inequalities between children and adults.
      - Prevention from paid work - segregates them and makes them powerless.
      - View described as 'child liberationism'
      - Argued that it is protection.
    - Neglect and Abuse
      - In 2006 31,400 were on child protection registers.
      - ChildLine receives over 20,000 calls a year from children saying they have been sexually or physically abused.
    - Control Over Children's Space and Time.
      - Shops display 'no school children ' signs.
      - Increasing close surveillance over children in public areas.
      - Fears about road safety and stranger danger has led to less independent travel.
      - In 1971 Hilman found that 80% of 7-8 yr olds were allowed to go to school with out supervision, this reduced to 9% in 1990s.
      - Adults control the daily routine of children.
      - Control how fast they grow up as they decide whether a child is 'too young' too participate in a task.
    - Control Over Children's Bodies
      - Control how they sit and walk. How they dress.
      - Control how they are touched, nurtured and disciplined.
      - Told how to touch their own bodies - don't pick your nose or touch genitals.
    - Control over access to resources.
      - Laws exclude them from part-time employment.
      - Child benefit goes to the parent not the child.
      - 'Pocket money' is restricted.
- The Future of Childhood
  - The Disappearance of Childhood
    - The ability to read set apart child and adulthood.
      - Created an information hierarchy.
    - TV and Tech blurs this hierarchy given children access too information which equalizes their knowledge with adults.
  - A Separate Childhood Culture
    - Lona Opie argues childhood is not disappearing but forming a separate culture.
    - Create their own games and culture.
  - Globalization of Western Childhood
    - Being exported and imposed on the rest of the world.
    - A separate life stage based in the nuclear family and school in which children are innocent, dependent and have no economic role.
  - Reconstruction of Childhood
    - Sue Palmer calls 'toxic childhood - technological and cultural changes have damaged intellectual and emotional development.
    - UK youth are at the top of the league tables in obesity, self harm, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and teenage pregnancies.
    - Growing similarities with adults leisure activities, fashion and diet.
- Childhood as a Social Construct
  - Modern Western Childhood
    - There is a vast contrast between adults and children.
      - Regarded as physically and emotionally immature and not competent enough to run their lives.
      - Laws regulate what children are allowed, required and restricted to do.
      - Their difference is also highlighted with entertainment, clothing and toys.
    - Childhood is often referred to a golden age of happiness and innocence.
      - However means they are labelled as vulnerable.
      - In need of protection and should be quarantined from 'the real world'.
      - In a sphere of family, entertainment and education - live lives of pleasure.
  - Cross-Cultural Differences
    - In poor countries children are found to work from a young age.
      - Samantha Punch: Found that in rural Bolivia children are expected to work by the age of 5.
      - Lowell Holmes found that 'too young' was never an excuse not to partake in a task.
    - Less value is placed on obedience among the Tikopia of western pacific.
    - Sexual activities were tolerated and amused interest in West Pacific Islands.
  - Historical Differences
    - It is argued that 'childhood did not exist' in the middle ages.
      - Once they passed the stage of physical dependency they were treated as adults.
    - Artwork from the period shows little distinction between children and adults.
  - Reasons For Change
    - Laws restricting child labour.
    - Compulsory schooling.
    - Child protection and welfare legislation. E.g. Prevention of Cruelty to Children act.
    - The growth in the idea of children's rights.
    - Declining family size and lower IMR.
    - Increased knowledge in children's health and development.

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Childhood

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