1. ChildhoodChildhood
Part 1: The social construction ofPart 1: The social construction of
childhoodchildhood
L.O to understand theL.O to understand the
changing role of childrenchanging role of children
in familiesin families
2. Questions to get you thinking;Questions to get you thinking;
What is childhood?What is childhood?
Should childhood be aShould childhood be a
particularly happy time?particularly happy time?
Why/why not?Why/why not?
Do you think it is a good idea toDo you think it is a good idea to
make children labour for amake children labour for a
living?living?
Are your views on childhoodAre your views on childhood
traditional or a recenttraditional or a recent
development?development?
5. Child labourChild labour
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), some
250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 work for a
living, worldwide.
6. Child SoldiersChild Soldiers
<>
•In 1998 it was
estimated that
up to 300,000
children were
actively involved
in armed conflict
in government
armed forces,
government
militias and in a
range of armed
opposition
groups.
8. The Social Construction ofThe Social Construction of
ChildhoodChildhood
Phillip Aires (1962) suggested that ourPhillip Aires (1962) suggested that our
contemporary conception of childhood is acontemporary conception of childhood is a
social constructsocial construct
In pre-industrial society there was no suchIn pre-industrial society there was no such
divide between adults and children;divide between adults and children;
children wore adult style clothes and werechildren wore adult style clothes and were
employed in the same contextemployed in the same context
Children were seen as small adultsChildren were seen as small adults
Attitudes towards children had changedAttitudes towards children had changed
significantly by the mid 1800s, by this timesignificantly by the mid 1800s, by this time
there was some different styles of clothingthere was some different styles of clothing
for upper-class childrenfor upper-class children
9. Childhood Part 2:Childhood Part 2:
Contemporary IssuesContemporary Issues
L.O to understand the changingL.O to understand the changing
role of children in familiesrole of children in families
10. Write down any restrictions on
young people and children
Eg voting, driving, number of
children allowed in shops at a
time
11. A March of Progress?A March of Progress?
Functionalist sociologists argue that theFunctionalist sociologists argue that the
changing status of children in society ischanging status of children in society is
part of a march of progresspart of a march of progress
This ideas asserts that children’s livesThis ideas asserts that children’s lives
have improvedhave improved
This is evident in the amount ofThis is evident in the amount of
revenue devoted to education, healthrevenue devoted to education, health
care and the protection of children’scare and the protection of children’s
rightsrights
However, this approach has beenHowever, this approach has been
criticised by conflict approaches thatcriticised by conflict approaches that
suggest this theory to be over-simplifiedsuggest this theory to be over-simplified
Do Children have more rights orDo Children have more rights or
restrictions?restrictions?
12. The Child-centred SocietyThe Child-centred Society
To what extent is the phrase children should beTo what extent is the phrase children should be
seen and not heard relevant today?seen and not heard relevant today?
Aries argued that we now have aAries argued that we now have a ‘cult of‘cult of
childhood’childhood’ meaning that society is very childmeaning that society is very child
centredcentred
We can see examples of how much of theWe can see examples of how much of the
available leisure facilities are created withavailable leisure facilities are created with
children in mindchildren in mind
This is also eviden in theThis is also eviden in the legislationlegislation that isthat is
designed to protect childrendesigned to protect children
To what extent is the phrase children should beTo what extent is the phrase children should be
seen and not heard relevant today?seen and not heard relevant today?
Aries argued that we now have aAries argued that we now have a ‘cult of‘cult of
childhood’childhood’ meaning that society is very childmeaning that society is very child
centredcentred
We can see examples of how much of theWe can see examples of how much of the
available leisure facilities are created withavailable leisure facilities are created with
children in mindchildren in mind
This is also eviden in theThis is also eviden in the legislationlegislation that isthat is
designed to protect childrendesigned to protect children
To what extent is the phrase children should beTo what extent is the phrase children should be
seen and not heard relevant today?seen and not heard relevant today?
Aries argued that we now have aAries argued that we now have a ‘cult of‘cult of
childhood’childhood’ meaning that society is very childmeaning that society is very child
centredcentred
We can see examples of how much of theWe can see examples of how much of the
available leisure facilities are created withavailable leisure facilities are created with
children in mindchildren in mind
This is also evident in theThis is also evident in the legislationlegislation that isthat is
designed to protect childrendesigned to protect children
13. The Disappearance of ChildhoodThe Disappearance of Childhood
According to Postman television isAccording to Postman television is
blurring the distinction betweenblurring the distinction between
childhood and adulthood, because itchildhood and adulthood, because it
makes information available to all inmakes information available to all in
spite of literary levelsspite of literary levels
Phillips (1997) also argues that popularPhillips (1997) also argues that popular
culture encourages girls to embrace aculture encourages girls to embrace a
sexual identity at a younger agesexual identity at a younger age
14. The Toxic ChildhoodThe Toxic Childhood
Palmer (2006) discussesPalmer (2006) discusses
cultural changes that affectcultural changes that affect
children in today’s societychildren in today’s society
She argues that children areShe argues that children are
pacified with TV, video gamespacified with TV, video games
and junk foodand junk food
15. Choose a side from the twoChoose a side from the two
statements below and create anstatements below and create an
argument using evidence andargument using evidence and
examplesexamples
Children are now more equal toChildren are now more equal to
adults today than ever beforeadults today than ever before
Children are now moreChildren are now more
dependent on adults than everdependent on adults than ever
beforebefore
Notas do Editor
Read and make notes from Webb Page 41-43 or write down the 4 aspects of childhood on page 65, and write down four ways in which childhood is different today
Age patriarchy:Chisholm 1990
Discuss the concept of tweenagers, also go back to Phillip Aries concept and discuss ways in which we have gone full circle; children dressing like adults, being punished as adults, exposure to the adult world: Show clip on children as consumers from the Corporation
Parents, instead of spending time reading to their children at night or talking to them, plonk them in front of the television and treat it as an electronic babysitter. They buy their children electronic games and junk food to keep them quiet, and spend less and less time with them. Thus they deprive them of what they need most - a good old-fashioned upbringing where parents are in charge, providing a safe, calm and nurturing environment, where they can develop at their own pace and learn important moral and cultural values that are the foundation of a stable society.