Childhood

Pilcher 1995

'modern childhood is defined through separateness'

Adulthood:

Childhood:

Childwear

Emotional responsibility

No responsibility

Age of responsibility

Economic liability (asset)

Obey the rules

Responsibility- bills

Professional wear

Economic breadwinner

18 can drink / gamble etc.

Make the rules

The distinct life stage separate from adults IE: In terms of status.

March of progress:

Childhood is seen as the 'golden age' an age of innocence. Many societies see childhood as a period of life that requires protection and 'quarantine' from adult life.

Wagg 1992

Childhood is socially constructed. It is what members of particular societies at particular times, in particular places, say it is. Therefore is no single universal childhood, experienced by all

Ruth Benedict 1934

1) More responsibility at a young age. Punch 2001 points out that in rural Bolivia that 5 year olds are expected to take work responsibilities in the home.

2) Less value placed on obedience to adult authority. Firth 1970- Found that the Tikopia of the western pacific believe that children are well within their rights to dismiss orders from their parents

Childhood used to be treated differently in pre-industrial societies in 3 ways:

3) Sexual behaviour is viewed differently. Malinowski (1957) found that the Trobriand Islanders (South West Pacific) were tolerant of children’s sexual explorations.

Historical Differences in childhood

It wasn't until the late 19th century that child labour was common practise with many children starting work at 7 years old. (Children were an economic asset within the family).

Patriarchal families meant that men rarely had anything to do with the upbringing of their children.

Aries 1973:

Argues that our 'contemporary nation of childhood did not emerge until the 16th / 17th centuries prior to this is was not really a distance time of life.

Shorter 1975 children in the middle ages

(Up to the late 19th century) were often treated with indifference due to high death rates IE: Lack of emotional bonds. It was not uncommon for parents to forget how many children they had, had.

The 20th century:

Become the 'age of the child' IE: Families and society in general, have become 'child centred'. The position of children has vastly improved since the middle ages.

Mause 1974- march of progress

The history of childhood is a nightmare from which we have recently begun to awaken. The further back in history on goes, the lower the level of child care and the more likely children are to be killed, abandoned, beaten, terrorised,or sexually abused.

Conflict view:

1) Inequalities among children: gender (Hillman) / ethnicity (Brannan) / class.

2) Inequalities between children and adults (Firestone and Holt 1974)

Neglect and abuse

Controls over childrens space

Controls over childrens time

Controls over childrens bodies

Age patriarchy

Controls over childrens access to resources

Jenks 2005: Childhood is not disappearing it is changing. Children have become the only constant refugee in our postmodern society which sees so much upheaval (increase in divorce etc.) that adult are more preoccupied with protecting them. Childhood continues to be a separate status, and the legal restrictions placed on what children can do continues to mark Them off from adults.

Future of childhood- Postman 1994

Childhood is disappearing at a dazzling speed

Postman argues that children are becoming more and more similar to adults in terms of law, rights, clothing, leisure,time and crime. This is due to the increase in television culture.