Childhood

Cross cultural differences

Punch - children tale responsibility young e.g Rural Bolivia, children at 5 took on work and home responsibilities.

Firth - less value on obedience e.g. Topika tribe, doing as you are told is something decided BT the child.

Malinowski - sexual behaviour is different e.g. Trobidand islanders took an attitude of tolerance to sexual exploring.

Reasons for the changes

Laws restricting child labour - this meant children were not taking on adult resporesponsibilities such as earning an income.

The introduction of compulsory schooling - children were excluded from the workforce and mothers had to spend more time taking care of the children. Making them an economic liability.

Declining family size and a decline in infant mortality rates meant that it wasn't necessary to have lots of children to guarantee survival, instead families focused on a few children with love and appreciation.

Disappearance of childhood - Postman

The distinction between adults and children is becoming blurred. Children have similar rights to adults, they are prosecuted the same for adult crimes, legal age of imprisonment is 10 in the UK. There are similarities in clothing.

Why is there a disappearance?

A decline in print culture and an increase in television means that children have access to the same sphere of knowledge. As you don't have to be literate to receive the information.

✗ Opie - studying children's games, rhymes/songs and books, shows that there isn't a disappearance.

✗ Postman overemphasised the role of television as the main cause of the blur.

Postmodernism - Jenks

In modern society adult relationships become unstable which generates feelings of insecurity. Children become the stable source of adult identities and a refuge from uncertainty. If your marriage breaks down, you may not be a husband but you will always be a father.

As a result adults are more fearful for the security of children. This strengthens the idea that children are vulnerable.

✓ Evidence supports this, as parents often care for their children more than their partner.

✗ Over generalises that all children are in the same position, that all children are at risk of family breakdown or are living in a risk free environment.

March of progress - Aries + Shorter

The conditions for children have improved and thus childhood has improved.

Children are protected by laws and legal protection services.

There are arrays of professionals dedicated to children e.g. child psychiatrists, pediatric medicine.

Better general health care + NHS.

Leisure designed for children e.g. parks, play areas.

Child centered family

Smaller family sizes means that families can focus on taking care of coven better. A child can be very expensive - as much as £227k by 21 (among M/C - U/C).

Children are no longer seen and not heard, they are often key in making family decisions. With decisions being made about them and with their active involvement.

The increase in media output for children and leisure activities means family life becomes increasingly revolved around children and their wants.

Toxic childhood - Palmer

Rapid technological and cultural changes in the past 25 years has damaged children's physical, emotional, intellectual development e.g. fast foods has caused obesity.

Inequalities between children

Gender; Hilman - boys have more freedom e.g. staying out late at night, Bonke - girls do more domestic chores at home.

Ethnicity; Brannen - Asian parents are more likely to be strict about this such as free time, education and housework, Bhatti - family honour restricts girls in terms of dress, friends and free time.

Class; poor mothers are likely to have stunted babies. Children from poorer families are more likely to die in infancy or suffer longstanding illnesses.

Inequalities between children and adults

Control over children's space:

Children are forbidden to go into certain places e.g. banns in shops, 2 children at a time.

Fear over stranger danger has led to children being driven to school 85% of the time, a 60% increase in the last few years.

Control over children's time:

Bed time

Routines during the day e.g. School, home life.

Rate at which children grow up, babied children with grow up slower.

Control over children's bodies:

Parents tell them what ways it is appropriate to be touched by others.

Their appearance e.g. hair style/colour, piercings, make-up.

Which ways children can touch their own bodies e.g. picking their nose.

Child's point of view - Smart

Interactionist approach looking at the meanings children give to their experiences and views on the family/childhood.

✓ This allows to explore the vast differences in experiences across society.