Made for the purpose of revision of AQA's AS level sociology, the topic Family & Households. A slideshow on the 4 different sub-topics within the main topics of childhood and childhood as a social construct. Includes: modern western notion of childhood, cross-cultural differences, historical differences and why the position of children has changed. Sociologists names and studies.

1. A Q A – A S S O C I O L O G Y
Childhood -
A Social Construct

2. Sections
 Modern western notion
 Cross-cultural differences
 Historical differences
 Why the position of children has changed

3. Modern western notion of childhood
 An innocent and special time of life - a ‘golden age’.
 Fundamentally different from adulthood – physically and mentally incapable.
 Period of protection, nurturing and socialising.
 Pilcher – childhood is distinctly separate from adulthood, it is its own clear
life stage where children occupy a different social status form adults.
 This is emphasised via laws, differences in dressing, and products and services
for children.
 Also seen as vulnerable, and in need of protection from the dangers of the
adult world.
 Lived in a sphere of family and education – away from the real world.
 Cuningham – children are the opposite to adults, with the right to
happiness.
 Wagg – there is no such thing as universal childhood, it isn't ‘natural’.

4. Cross-cultural differences
 Benedict – children from non-industrial societies are different from western
children as:
 They have more responsibility from an early age. Punch found that once
children in Bolivia reach 5, they are expected to take work responsibilities in
the home and community.
 Less value placed on them showing obedience to authority. Firth found that
the children of the Tikopia doing what you are told by an adult is regarded as a
concession to be granted by the child.
 Their sexual behavior is viewed differently. Malinowski found among the
Trobiand Islanders adults took an attitude of ‘tolerance and amused interest’
towards children's sexual activities.

5. Historical differences
 Todays idea of childhood is a quite new invention.
 Ariès – between the 10th and 13th century childhood didn’t exist. Children
were not seen to have a different nature or needs from adults. This is shown
by the art, children were depicted as smaller – not as having any different
characteristics.
 Shorter – parental attitude was different. High death rates encouraged
indifference and neglect toward infants.
 Ariès – elements of the modern notion of childhood started to emerge:
 Schools started to specialise in education of the young.
 Growing distinction between children's and adults clothing.
 18th century – handbooks on childbearing were available.
 Pollock – criticises Ariès, its more correct to say that in the Middle Ages
society had a different notion of childhood than today.

6. Why the position of children has changed
 Laws restricting child labour – children are now an economic liability.
 Introduction of compulsory schooling in 1880 – increasing leaving age has extended
the period of dependency.
 Child protection & welfare legislation – 1889 Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act
 Growth of the idea of child rights – parents have ‘responsibilities’ to their children.
 Declining family size and lower infant mortality rates – greater investment.
 Children's health and development became he subject of medical knowledge.
Donzelot says theories of child development appeared in the 19th century.
 Laws and policies that apply specifically to children – minimum drinking age etc.