AQA Sociology

1. CHILDHOOD

2.  Explain what is meant by „childhood as a
social construct‟
 Outline the historical and cross cultural
differences in childhood
 Evaluate the different Sociological
Perspectives on Childhood

3.  Produce a mind map of all the things you
associate with childhood
 TheRaccoons Theme Song Run With Us Music
Video - YouTube

4.  What is a social construct?
 Something which is „made‟ or „constructed‟
by society.
 Sociologistsargue that childhood is not fixed,
it differs between, time, place and culture.

5.  “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.”

6.  In pairs come up with some examples of how
you think childhood may differ across, time,
place and culture.

7.  Withyour partner make a list of all the ways
in which we distinguish adults and children in
modern UK society

8.  Ruth Benedict argues that children in
non-industrial societies are generally
treated differently from children in the
industrialised west in three key ways:
1. They take responsibility at an early age.
2. Less value placed on children showing
obedience to adult authority.
3. Children‟s sexual behaviour is often
viewed very differently.

9.  Aries (1960) argues that in the middle ages
childhood simply did not exist.
 Childhood as a separate stage was very short,
soon after weaning the child was very much
on the same terms as an adult, beginning to
work from an early age, children were „mini
adults.‟
 Aries used works of art from period as
evidence where children were depicted in
the same way as adults – only smaller!

10.  Shorter (1975) also argues that parental
attitudes were very different in the middle
ages, he sais that high death rates amongst
children led to indifference and neglect.
 It was not uncommon for people to forget
how many children they had, call a new
infant the same name as a dead sibling or
refer to a baby as „it.‟

11.  Schools started to  By the C18th
specialise in the handbooks on
education of the childrearing became
young. widely available.
 Growing distinction  There was increasing
between children‟s child-centredness
and adults clothing. amongst the middle
By the C17th an upper classes.
class boy would wear  Aries says that we
clothes reserved for now have a modern
his age group. “cult of childhood.”

12.  Activity 3  Laws restricting
child labour
What changes have  Economic asset to
occurred in society economic liability
in order for  Education
childhood to become  Child Protection The
a „Separate and Children‟s Act
distinct‟ life stage? (1989)
 Children‟s Rights –
UN Convention on
Rights of the Child
(1989)

13. Suggest 3 ways in which childhood has become a „specially
protected‟ time of life. (6)
Now peer assess…
Laws come into force protecting children
People have children for different reasons, not economic
asset any longer, nurture and care for them
Children are not allowed to work they now go to school
Agencies which protect children that didn‟t exist in the past

14.  Theposition of children has been steadily
improving and today it is better than it has
ever been.
 Lloyd De Mause (1974)
‘The history of childhood from which we have
only recently begun to awaken. The further
back in history one goes, the lower the level
of childcare and the more likely children are
to be killed, beaten, terrorised and sexually
abused.’

15.  Marxists
and feminists dispute the view held
by MOP Sociologists
 There are inequalities amongst children
 The inequalities between adults and children
are greater than ever – they experience
greater control, oppression and dependency

16.  Come up with examples for your given topic
and state the impact on the child
1. Inequalities between children
2. Control over children‟s space
3. Control over children‟s time
4. Control over children‟s bodies
5. Control over children‟s access to resources

17.  Term to describe the inequalities between
adults and children, just as the term is used
to describe oppression of women against
men.
 „Ruled by the father‟

18.  Postman (1994) argues that childhood is now
disappearing
 The distinction between adults and children
is now blurred
 Activity 4 – provide examples

19. Disappearance
of childhood
games
Growing
Books, games similarity in
clothing
Similarities
between
children
and adults
Children
Television
committing
culture
adult crimes

20. Iona Opie;
Believes unlike Postman, there is a strong
existence of childhood, children create their
own independence separate from adults.

21.  International
humanitarian agencies who
help „vulnerable‟ children
 Thewest decides that these children are
mal-treated

22.  Sue Palmer
 Childhood has become „toxic‟
 In what ways has it become toxic?