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Topic 2 – Childhood
● Sociologists see childhood as socially constructed – (created and defined by society)
● What people mean by childhood and position that children occupy in society changes between
different times, places and cultures
The modern western notion of childhood
● In our society, generally today childhood is special time of life and children are fundamentally
different from adults – immature
● Jane Pilcher notes idea off separateness that childhood is clear and distinct life stage and
children in our society are separate from adult’s e
...
“Golden age of
happiness and innocence”
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● Stephen Wagg says that childhood socially constructed so it changes in different societies
Cross cultural differences in childhood
● Ruth Benedict argues that children in simpler non industrial societies are treated differently from
children in modern societies
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● Samantha Punch study of childhood in rural Bolivia found that once children are about 5 years
old they are expected to take responsibilities in the home and community
● Less value placed on children showing obedience to adult authority
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As schools began to specialise purely in education of young, growing distinction
between children and adults clothing
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He pointed out that different legislation (laws) protected children like laws restricting
child labour and excluding children from paid work, introduction of compulsory schooling in
1880, child protection and welfare legislation and growth of children’s rights
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Industrialisation was a key factor in bringing about modern idea of childhood and changed status
of children
Has the position of children improved?
March of Progress view
- This view argues that over the past few centuries the position of children in western societies
have been improving and today it is better than it has been
- Writers like Aries and Shorter hold this view that today’s children are more valued, better cared
for, protected and educated, enjoy better health and have more rights
- They argue that the family has become child centred
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Instead now they are focal point of family
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Some groups have more power, status or wealth than others
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Criticise “March of progress” view as there
are inequalities among children in terms of opportunities and risks they face
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- Not all children share same status or experiences as 90% of the world’s low birth weight babies
are born in Third World
- Poor mothers more likely to have low birth weight babies, which in turn is linked to delayed
physical and intellectual development
- Caroline Woodroffe found that children of unskilled workers are more likely to suffer from
hyperactivity and personality disorders
- Marilyn Howard said that children born into poor families were more likely to die in infancy or
suffer from illnesses
- Also, major inequalities of power between children and adults
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- These critics see the need to free children from adult control and so their view is described as
child liberationism
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- Controls over children’s space: Children’s movements in industrial societies like Britain are highly
regulated
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g shops may display signs like “no schoolchildren”
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Hillmen found that fewer and fewer children are allowed
to be free from adult supervision, contrasting with freedom of children in the 3rd world
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- Control over children’s time: Adults in modern society control children’s daily routines
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Adults
restrict what children can touch their own bodies
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- Controls over children’s access to resources: Children have only limited opportunities to earn
money so they remain dependent economically on adults
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Just as feminists use concept of patriarchy to describe male domination and female
dependency, Gittins argues there is also an age patriarchy of adult domination and child
dependency
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Television blurs the distinction
between childhood and adulthood by destroying the information hierarchy
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The globalisation of western childhood
⮚

Child liberationists argue that modern western childhood is oppressive and children today are
subject to adult authority
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Contradictory trends – the reconstruction of childhood?
o Sue Palmer: phrase “Toxic Childhood” i
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These changes range from
junk food, computer games etc
o Julia Margo and Mike Dixon state that the UK tops the league for obesity, self harm, drug and
alcohol abuse

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