The nature of childhood Learning Objectives: To be able to explain childhood as a social construction

Present new information: Childhood experiences: In your pair fill in the table to decide what childhood was like for the three different age groups AGE group Childhood experiences: 60+ Grandparents 30+ Parents 5-20 Siblings or friends

What can you conclude about the experiences of childhood from these pictures?

Present new information: Childhood is a SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION- created and defined by society, rather than simply a biological state Ideas about childhood vary between different cultures, societies and different historical periods

The modern western notion of childhood: Special time… Children are regarded as physically and psychologically immature and not yet competent to run their own lives Children’s lack of skills, knowledge and experience means they need a length protective period of nurturing and socialisation before they are ready for adult society and its responsibilities

The modern western notion of childhood: Separateness (Pilcher – Western Societies) A modern idea that children in our society occupy a separate status from adults Childhood is a clear, distinct life stage. Evidence?? Laws/protection – regulating what children do/forbidden Dress Products – e.g. books , toys, food Services – e.g. entertainments, play areas Exclusion from paid work

The modern western notion of childhood: Emphasised This is emphasised in several ways such as: Laws/protection – regulating what children do/forbidden Dress Products – e.g. books , toys, food Services – e.g. entertainments, play areas Exclusion from paid work

Child centred society Have their own toys, TV programmes, play areas made especially for them!! Have their own doctors, teachers etc, to care for them Children are provided with an education Special food/drink for kids

The modern western notion of childhood: ‘Golden Age’ Of happiness and innocence. This ‘innocence’ sees children as vulnerable and in need of protection from the dangers of the adult world so they must be kept ‘quarantined’ Children’s lives are lived in the sphere of the family and education, where adults provide and protect them

The modern western notion of childhood: Not universal Wagg says that there is “no single universal childhood experienced by all – it is socially constructed for that particular society” Childhood isn’t natural While all humans go through the same stages of physical development, different cultures construct or define this process differently

Construct Complete the following questions into your booklet – pg.3: Explain in your own words the meaning of ‘childhood as a social construction’ Suggest three ways childhood today is seen as a clear an distinct life stage

Cross-cultural differences in childhood A good way to explain the social cultural example of childhood is to compare how children are treated in other times and places. e.g. Benedict (1934) Childhood is different in simpler, non-industrial societies: treated in similar way to adults http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJiOSuG9gZ4

Less value is placed on childhood obedience to authority: Firth (1970) found that among the Tikopia of the Western Pacific, doing as you are told by a grown-up is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child, not a right expressed by the adult. They take responsibility as an early age: Punch’s (2001) study of childhood in rural Bolivia found that, once children are 5, they are expected to take work responsibilities in the home and community. Children’s sexual behaviour is often viewed differently: Trobriand Islanders of the South West Pacific, Malinowski (1957) found adults took an attitude of ‘tolerance and amused interest’ towards children’s sexual exploitations and activities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gllwTxsZ_vk

The globalisation of western childhood Western notions of childhood are being globalised International agencies have imposed on the world, western norms of what childhood should be Separate life stage Based in the nuclear family and school Children are innocent, dependent, vulnerable No economic role e.g. campaigns on child labour and ‘street children’ AO3 – However, do these campaigns have little impact on the position of children in developing countries??

Historical differences in childhood Sociologist Phillippe Aries (1962) argued that childhood is a relatively ‘recent’ invention......

PRE INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY

Pre- industrial society Childhood as we know it did not exist Children were ‘little adults’ who took part in the same work and play activities as adults. Toys and games specifically for children did not exist. Children seen as an economic asset, rather than something to be cared for Children were punished for crimes in the same way that adults were (In Tudor times a 7 year old could be hung for stealing)

Industrial family

Industrialisation Children from W/C families still worked in mines, factories etc BUT!!! M/C attitudes started to change- parents investing emotionally in children as the death rate of children was starting to fall

Mid 19th Century: Adult started to become concerned with children who were begging on the streets and child prostitution. children were banned from working in the factories and mines where many had been killed. BUT some W/C parents resisted changes as they depended on children wages and many children continued to be badly treated

20th Century: Emergence of child- centred society- ‘children are valued, loved and protected!’ As a result of improved standards of living= major decline in infant mortality rates Increased availability of contraception meant couples could choose to have fewer children= invest more time in them in terms of love, socialisation and protection

Watch this video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI40wizRNc4

Task – fastest buzzer!! Read the following statements and decide which period of time it fits into.... Write on your whiteboard PI= pre industrial IS= industrial society TS- today’s society

What period of time am I? Children and adults both work Children’s toys and games do not exist Lots of laws to protect children Childhood seen as separate from adulthood Many middle class children stop working increased contraception Aries argued that children were regarded as an economic asset

What period am I? High infant mortality rate Child centred society No laws to stop children being over-worked Adults start to become concerned about child prostitution children work in mines, factories etc Infant mortality rate starting to fall Children are like small adults, taking part in the same work and play activities

Changes in the position of children “ how did the position of children change from being the invisible mini adults to being the centre of our society?” TASK – using page 181, summarise the following reasons for a change in the position of children

Review – page 16 Extension: Outline three cultural differences between the position of western and non-western children (6 marks)

Review – peer assessment Extension: Take greater responsibility Sexual behaviour viewed differently Less value placed on obedience to authority