Childhood

1. Childhood

2. Definition ‘A State, which is both socially, and biologically constructed’ The period of time where a person has not yet reached adult status

3. Arguments • Arguments as to whether it is biologically constructed or socially constructed • Arguments as to whether it is historically constructed or not • Arguments that childhood is culturally specific

4. Biologically • Functionalists argue that childhood should be explained in a biological sense • Children have and always will be passive

5. Socially Constructed • Interactionist argue that society makes up our idea of childhood • Childhood is dependent on time and culture you are in • Types of acceptable behaviour, length and how children should be treated are all evidence of this

6. Historical Arguments • Aries ’62 – childhood did not exist in medieval Europe • Used diaries, letters, other documents and paintings of the time to emphasis this • Children were depicted as little adults, involved in adult activities such as sex, fighting and work

7. Aries Cont…………… • The emergence of the modern child: • Began in 16th century with Upper Classes and education • Working classes still involved in child labour • Early industrialisation saw children in factories etc • 19th century introduction of various laws stopped this

8. Fletcher • Introduction of laws stopped children being treated as adults • Factory Acts prevented children from a certain age working • Education Acts ensured children up to a certain age were educated • 20th century childhood now applies to all classes

9. Always been around • Pollack – used diaries between 16th and 20th century. Found childhood did exist because children were subject to physical and emotional abuse • Cunningham – Renaissance art portrayed children as innocents • Functionalists and Psychologists – mental and physical developments should play a key part

10. Contemporary Cross-Cultural Differences • Eidenstadt: Childhood is socially constructed and therefore culturally specific • Bilton – childhood is experienced differently in the Western world compared to the East. • Western world has childhood, Eastern world still sees children working in factories

11. Evidence Cont…. • Malinowski – Trobriand Island children are much freer sexually • Turnbull – The Mountain People similar to Ik tribe, children could survive even when abandoned • Firth – Tikopia Island Tribe – carried out dangerous tasks when they/adults felt they were ready

12. Decline of Childhood? • Lee – 20th century notion of childhood was that of unstable and incomplete humans. • Move to 21st century no longer complete when we reach adulthood, still sense of uncertainty • Adults are becoming more like children • Children have increased rights – children have more say over what happens to them

13. Postman • Notion of childhood has disappeared • Childhood can only occur if they are separated from adults • Merging of roles, children have rights, access to same levels of media • Boundaries have blurred

14. Childhood is still here • Childhood is a long way from disappearing • Now a major economic force – clothes, toys, food etc • Buckingham – children have a major say on what is produced and purchased • Lee – not disappeared become more complex and ambiguous • Although can have a say what they want, they are still dependent on parents purchasing power