Childhood as a social construct

Jane Pilcher (1995)

Modern idea of childhood is seperateness

Childhood is seen as a clear, discinct life stage

Children occupy a different status

Idea that children are innocent and happy

Stephen Wagg

Pilcher's idea of children is not universal

Believes it is socially constructed

Childhood is what particular societies say it is

Childhood isn't natural

Different cultures and ethnicities etc go have different childhoods

Some cultures don't have that different status'

Ruth Benedict

Children in non-industrial societies are treated differently from modern counterparts

They take responsibility early

Less value is placed on children showing ovedience to adults

Sexual behaviour may be viewed differently

Less of a dividing statues between child and adult

Childhood is not universal

Socially constructed

Samantha punch

Studies in Bolvia

Once children are around 5 they are expected to take on work responsibilities

This is within home and the community

Tasks should be taken on without question

Lowell Holmes

Study of a Samoan village

Too young was never an execuse for someone to perform a task

Parents do not object if a child thinks they can perform a task

Raymond Firth

Western pacific Tikopia

Doing as you are told by an adult

This should be a concession by the child

Bronislaw Malinowski

Islanders of the south-west pacific

Adults had a certain attitude

'Tolerance and amused interst' towards children's sexual explorations

Philippe Areis

In the Middle ages childhood did not exist

Children were seen as having a different nature than adults

Childhood as a separate age stage was short

Work began at a young age