Chapter 17 The World Beyond the Family

Definitions  Agent of Socialization  Audiovisual Technology  Breakfast Programs  Censorship  Curriculum  Defiance of Authority  Display Media  Electronic Media

Agent of Socialization A person or organization, such as school or family, that plays an important role in teaching children the ways of society.

Audiovisual Technology Forms of media such as television and video, electronic sources such as computers, Internet, electronic messages, and interactive games that bring together representations of sight and sound.

Breakfast Programs The provision of breakfast by schools and communities for hungry children.

Censorship The practice of banning or repressing materials or ideas considered objectionable.

Curriculum A set of courses and programs offered at school.

Defiance of Authority The act of opposing an influential person or organization.

Display Media Eye-catching materials set up to communicate information to a large audience; for example, billboards, signs, window displays.

Electronic Media Computers, the Internet, electronic messages, interactive games, and telecommunication technologies.

Media, Parents and the School  Teachers instruct in social conventions (such as taking turns, waiting in line, etc.) – encouraging independence.  Not every child has a positive experience at school which concerns parents.  Parents welcome the educational potential of electronic media.  TV programs and music help with language development, important concepts and so on.  However, this leaves children open to high-impact advertising.  Parents and caregivers must find a balance between the positive and negative influences of school and media on the socialization of their children.

Media Pressures on Parents and Children  Media sells not only products but lifestyles  Children are often targets of marketing, advertising, and the media; parents need to be aware of this  Parents are pressured by their children and the media to keep up with recent trends (clothing labels or collectible toys)  Read the case study on page 425 of the textbook and discuss the questions aloud.

Media Stereotypes and Violence  Media stereotyping is a subject of major concern  Stereotyping focuses mostly on gender, race and ethnicity  Violence is another concern with parents and its overwhelming presence in the media  Music videos, movies, video games, and television programs contain many violent images including abusive language, sexual assault, beatings, shootings and stabbings.  Many studies have linked media violence with aggression in children.

Media and Lifestyle  Sex in movies and on TV is portrayed as normal and inevitable  Alcohol is also advertised as commonplace; most movies and TV programs have alcohol in their images  Media encourages youth to smoke as it is portrayed as a part of adulthood  Media creates a consumption culture with needs and wants beyond what is necessary for survival  Things rather than relationships often define the quality of life

Media Censorship  Parents often try to have books banned from schools and libraries because of their content and are sometimes successful on a local level  Various groups and organizations have called for censorship or banning of different kinds of media without much success  Canada has laws governing obscenity but artistic expression is open to interpretation and debate  Canada has banned tobacco ads from TV but there is no censorship for violence

Review Questions  What is an agent of socialization?  How should schools respond to hunger, violence, and defiance of authority?  Many movies are not made for children, yet they watch them and learn from them. How can parents control what children see?  How does media censorship protect children?  How has media had a positive influence on your knowledge of the world?  What are some general positive aspects of media?