C HILDHOOD P ART 1: T HE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF CHILDHOOD L.O to understand the changing role of children in families

Questions to get you thinking; What is childhood? What is childhood? Should childhood be a particularly happy time? Should childhood be a particularly happy time? Why/why not? Why/why not? Do you think it is a good idea to make children labour for a living? Do you think it is a good idea to make children labour for a living? Are your views on childhood traditional or a recent development? Are your views on childhood traditional or a recent development?

S OME C ONTRASTING E XPERIENCES OF CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD

D OMESTIC L ABOUR

C HILD LABOUR According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), some 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 work for a living, worldwide.International Labour Organization (ILO)

C HILD S OLDIERS C HILD S OLDIERS <> 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.

Persecution

T HE S OCIAL C ONSTRUCTION OF C HILDHOOD Phillip Aires (1962) suggested that our contemporary conception of childhood is a social construct In pre-industrial society there was no such divide between adults and children; children wore adult style clothes and were employed in the same context Children were seen as small adults Attitudes towards children had changed significantly by the mid 1800s, by this time there was some different styles of clothing for upper- class children

C HILDHOOD P ART 2: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES L.O to understand the changing role of children in families

A RE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILDREN voting? Driving? Can you think of any others?

A M ARCH OF P ROGRESS ? Functionalist sociologists argue that the changing status of children in society is part of a march of progress Functionalist sociologists argue that the changing status of children in society is part of a march of progress This ideas asserts that children’s lives have improved This ideas asserts that children’s lives have improved This is evident in the amount of revenue devoted to education, health care and the protection of children’s rights This is evident in the amount of revenue devoted to education, health care and the protection of children’s rights However, this approach has been criticised by conflict approaches that suggest this theory to be over-simplified However, this approach has been criticised by conflict approaches that suggest this theory to be over-simplified Do Children have more rights or restrictions? Do Children have more rights or restrictions?

The Child-centred Society To what extent is the phrase children should be seen and not heard relevant today? To what extent is the phrase children should be seen and not heard relevant today? Aries argued that we now have a ‘cult of childhood’ meaning that society is very child centred Aries argued that we now have a ‘cult of childhood’ meaning that society is very child centred We can see examples of how much of the available leisure facilities are created with children in mind We can see examples of how much of the available leisure facilities are created with children in mind This is also eviden in the legislation that is designed to protect children This is also eviden in the legislation that is designed to protect children To what extent is the phrase children should be seen and not heard relevant today? To what extent is the phrase children should be seen and not heard relevant today? Aries argued that we now have a ‘cult of childhood’ meaning that society is very child centred Aries argued that we now have a ‘cult of childhood’ meaning that society is very child centred We can see examples of how much of the available leisure facilities are created with children in mind We can see examples of how much of the available leisure facilities are created with children in mind This is also eviden in the legislation that is designed to protect children This is also eviden in the legislation that is designed to protect children To what extent is the phrase children should be seen and not heard relevant today? To what extent is the phrase children should be seen and not heard relevant today? Aries argued that we now have a ‘cult of childhood’ meaning that society is very child centred Aries argued that we now have a ‘cult of childhood’ meaning that society is very child centred We can see examples of how much of the available leisure facilities are created with children in mind We can see examples of how much of the available leisure facilities are created with children in mind This is also evident in the legislation that is designed to protect children This is also evident in the legislation that is designed to protect children

T HE D ISAPPEARANCE OF C HILDHOOD According to Postman television is blurring the distinction between childhood and adulthood, because it makes information available to all in spite of literary levels According to Postman television is blurring the distinction between childhood and adulthood, because it makes information available to all in spite of literary levels Phillips (1997) also argues that popular culture encourages girls to embrace a sexual identity at a younger age Phillips (1997) also argues that popular culture encourages girls to embrace a sexual identity at a younger age

T HE T OXIC C HILDHOOD Palmer (2006) discusses cultural changes that affect children in today’s society Palmer (2006) discusses cultural changes that affect children in today’s society She argues that children are pacified with TV, video games and junk food She argues that children are pacified with TV, video games and junk food