Childhood

1. Childhood Changes in childhood and the position of children in families and society

2. Understand why sociologists see childhood as a social construction Know the reasons for the emergence of the modern notion of childhood Be able to analyse and evaluate different views of the position of children today Be able to analyse and evaluate different views of the future of childhood Learning Objectives for Topic

3. Childhood Child-centred Social construction Economic asset Economic burden/liability Infant mortality rate March of progress view Cross-cultural Disappearance of childhood Social blurring Age patriarchy Key Terms

5. Created by �.? This is not static � it changes, and therefore so does the experience and understanding of childhood Childhood as a SOCIAL CONSTRUCT

6. Children are fundamentally different from adults Physically and psychologically immature Lack of skills, knowledge and experience means that they need a lengthy protected period of nurturing and socialisation before being ready for adulthood Modern Western notion of childhood

7. Pilcher (1995) � most important notion is separateness � separate and clear from adulthood This is done through laws, dress, products and services �Golden age� of happiness and innocence Wagg (1992) This is not universal � �Childhood is socially constructed. It is, in other words, what members of particular societies, at particular times and in particular places, say it is. There is no single universal childhood, experienced by all. So, childhood isn�t natural and should be distinguished from mere biological immaturity� Western Notion of Childhood

8. Other times and places Benedict (1934) � children in simpler, non-industrial societies are generally treated differently from their modern western counterparts�.why? Take responsibility from an early age, e.g. Punch (2001) � Bolivia � once children are 5 they are expected to take work responsibilities in the home and community. Holmes (1974) � Samoa � �too young� never given as a reason for not permitting a child to undertake tasks. If they think they can do it, they do it. Cross-Cultural Differences in Childhood � Benedict (1934)

9. Less value placed on children showing obedience to adult authority e.g. Firth (1970) � Tikopia of the Western Pacific � doing as you are told is regarded as a concession to be taken by the child not a right to be expected by the adult Children�s sexual behaviour viewed differently e.g. Malinowski (1957) � Trobriand Islands � adults took an attitude of tolerance and amused interest toward childrens�s sexual explorations and activities. Proof, according to Benedict, that childhood is not a universal thing Cross-cultural differences � Benedict (1934) After this slide set work to create a sheet which explains historical differences/reasons for the changes in the position of children/the march of progress view/the conflict view (split into two) overall 5 groups of 4.After this slide set work to create a sheet which explains historical differences/reasons for the changes in the position of children/the march of progress view/the conflict view (split into two) overall 5 groups of 4.

10. Complete the activities on the sheet and then discuss as a group A3 sheet

11. Tweens

12. HOMEWORK! Ask 3 generations about their experience of being a child What sort of questions could you ask? This should be in the form of a questionnaire Think about questions that will gain interesting answers E.g. how much pocket money did you get as a child

13. Summary Childhood is a social construction It differs from place to place and time to time There are social differences in childhood The example of Tweens illustrates how childhood differs in the Western countries to other countries