4. Childhood
• If the idea of children’s rights is
gaining ground, could this be a sign that
children are becoming more powerful
and the distinction between adulthood
and childhood is breaking down?
• Is childhood as we know in western
society disappearing?
5. The death of Childhood: Postman
(1994)
• Childhood is disappearing at dazzling speed.
• Children are given the same rights as adults.
• Traditional childhood games have disappeared.
• In an extreme case, children are now committing
adult crimes, like murder.
6. Activity
Suggest 3 examples of ways in
which children’s activities,
leisure, dress or food and those
of adults have become similar in
recent years…
7. Page 35
1. What is the printed word?
2. What is the television world?
3. Why has the rise in the television
world made childhood disappear?
4. What is a criticism of Postman’s
study?
8. The Print Culture
• 19th Century
• Printed world created a
hierarchy: children cannot read
as much as adults.
• This gave adults the power to
keep knowledge of sex, violence
and other adult topics secret
from children.
• Childhood became associated
with innocence and ignorance.
9. The Rise of Television Culture
• Television is blurring the
distinction between childhood
and adulthood by destroying the
information hierarchy.
• Children do not need special skills
to access it.
• Adult authority is diminished and
children are no longer ignorant
and innocent – but are
knowledgeable and cynical
(distrusting).
• Has adulthood disappeared to?
10. Criticism
• Postman- the over emphasis of the single
cause (TV) at the expense of other social
factors that have influenced the
development of childhood (such as the
rising standards of living and changes in
the law).
11. • Postman has also been criticised for
overstating his case:
– Childhood is a long way from disappearing
– Children have become a major economic force:
• Taste in consumer goods have a major influence
on what is produced and purchased
(Buckingham, 2000)
12. A Separate Childhood Culture:
Opie (1993)
• Childhood is not
disappearing.
• Childhood games are still
evident and there is strong
evidence of a separate
children’s culture.
• This study shows that
children can and do create
their own independent
culture separate from that
of adults.
13. Globalisation of Western
Childhood
• Western notions of
childhood are being
globalised.
• Western norms of childhood:
• A separate life stage
• Based in the nuclear family and
school
• Children are innocent, dependent
and vulnerable and have no
economic role.
14. Third World Countries
• Campaigns about
childhood and concerns
about street children.
• Reflect what westerners
think childhood ought to
be like.
• However, it is the norm in
those countries and is
important preparation
into that culture and
adult life.
15. So …
• In this view, ‘childhood’ is not
disappearing but is spreading through
the world.
16. Your Task (page 36)
• A reconstruction of childhood, some
sociologists say this exists others disagree
• What are the views?
• Include:
• Palmer (2006)
• Dixon (2006)
• Womak (2007)
• Qvortrup (1990)
17. March of Progress View
• Argues that over the past few
centuries the position of children in
Western societies has been
steadily improving and today it is
better than it has ever been
18. March of Progress View
• Aries has a March of Progress View
– Children are more valued
– Better care
– More protection
– Better educated
– Better health
– More rights
• Think about the IMR as well
• Family has become child centred
– Society has also become child centre
20. Plenary
• How do you think childhood will evolve in
the years to come?
• Do you think the gap will blur or will it
get further apart?
21. What is childhood now??
• Palmer (2006) –
toxic childhood
– Computer games, junk
food, long work by
parents have damaged
children’s development
22. What is childhood now?
• Margo & Dixon (2006) – UK youth are at or
near the top of international league tables for obesity,
self harm, drug abuse, violence, sexual experiences and
teenage pregnancies.
– 2007 – UNICEF survey ranked UK 21st of 25
for children’s well being
23. Essay Plan
• Examine the reasons for changes in the
position of children in the family and
society
– (24 marks)
24. Essay Question
• Assess sociological explanations of changes in the
status of childhood
– (24 marks)
• Examine the reasons for the change in the status of
children since industrialisation
– (24 marks)
• Examine the reasons for changes in the position of
children in the last 200 years
– (24 marks)
• Assess the view that childhood is not a fixed
universal experience
– (24 marks)
25. Questions
1. Explain what is meant by the social construction of
childhood
2. Benedict identifies three ways in which childhood in
non-industrial cultures often differs from
childhood in the west. State two of these
3. Why are children less of an economic asset to their
parents today than they were in the past
4. Give one example of class differences between
children
5. What is age patriarchy?
6. Why does Postman believe childhood is
disappearing?
26. Answers
• 1. What is meant by ‘childhood’ differs between societies and
depends on time, place and culture.
• 2. Children take responsibility at an earlier age: less value placed
on them showing obedience; their sexual behaviour is often
viewed differently.
• 3. Because they cannot work, even part-time, until they are at
least 13 years old.
• 4. Among poorer children these are more likely: low birth
weight; delayed development; higher infant mortality rates;
longstanding illness; hyperactivity and conduct disorders; falling
behind at school; being on the child protection register
• 5. Adult domination/ control and child dependence.
• 6. Because television is destroying the information hierarchy
between adults and children and giving children access to
knowledge that hitherto only adults only possessed
Notes de l'éditeur
Children growing up too quickly and loosing their innocence Evidence: Underage drinking, sex and smoking Teen pregnancy Children wearing adult clothing Children watching adult TV, films and playing violent computer games TV and Internet are readily available and children can access ‘adult’ material and grow up too quickly. However it could also be argued that with the correct parental supervision children can still remain children longer
De Mause (1974) “ The history of childhood is a nightmare 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, abandoned, beaten, terrorised or sexually abused”
Conflict View ‘ March of Progress’ view is false Society is based on conflict There are inequalities between children – risk and care, many remain unprotected Inequalities between children and adults – experience greater control, oppression and dependency, not care and protection
What does this say about childhood? Why do you think this has happened?
