evaluating the view that childhood is ending
Evaluating the view that ‘childhood is ending’
What does this view assume about children and their position in society?
What would the conflict approach say about this view of childhood?
How could we use the idea that childhood is socially constructed to criticise the view that childhood is definitely ending?
Evaluation of the Childhood Debate
Which points claim that…..?
a) Childhood is ending
b) Childhood still exists as a separate stage
c) General criticisms of the debate
Functionalist/ New Right views assume that children are simply empty vessels, passively socialised by parents. Morrow (1998) found that children are active contributors to family life, not necessarily being manipulative, pressured by peers or accepting media influence (Which approach would argue this?)
Conflict approaches claim that debate generalises children. This is dangerous because childhood isn’t a fixed experience whereby social factors influence childhood e.g. gender, social class and culture.
Far from childhood disappearing, the West is imposing their notions of childhood and it is spreading throughout the world as the ‘correct’ way to experience childhood. This has encouraged campaigners against ‘street children’ in the 3rd world or against child labour where in fact, this activity might be the norm for children in their cultures.
Some sociologists claim that the conclusion that childhood has ended is based on the comparison to a ‘golden age’ of childhood which never really existed anyway.
Opie (1993), based on a lifetime of research into children’s games, rhymes and songs, argues that there is strong evidence of the continued existence of a separate children’s culture over the years. This shows that children do and can create their own independent culture separate from adults, informed through the media and advertising industry that provides such a culture.
The extent to which something exists or not can only be measured if ‘it’ remains fixed over time,
What does this view assume about children and their position in society?
What would the conflict approach say about this view of childhood?
How could we use the idea that childhood is socially constructed to criticise the view that childhood is definitely ending?
Evaluation of the Childhood Debate
Which points claim that…..?
a) Childhood is ending
b) Childhood still exists as a separate stage
c) General criticisms of the debate
Functionalist/ New Right views assume that children are simply empty vessels, passively socialised by parents. Morrow (1998) found that children are active contributors to family life, not necessarily being manipulative, pressured by peers or accepting media influence (Which approach would argue this?)
Conflict approaches claim that debate generalises children. This is dangerous because childhood isn’t a fixed experience whereby social factors influence childhood e.g. gender, social class and culture.
Far from childhood disappearing, the West is imposing their notions of childhood and it is spreading throughout the world as the ‘correct’ way to experience childhood. This has encouraged campaigners against ‘street children’ in the 3rd world or against child labour where in fact, this activity might be the norm for children in their cultures.
Some sociologists claim that the conclusion that childhood has ended is based on the comparison to a ‘golden age’ of childhood which never really existed anyway.
Opie (1993), based on a lifetime of research into children’s games, rhymes and songs, argues that there is strong evidence of the continued existence of a separate children’s culture over the years. This shows that children do and can create their own independent culture separate from adults, informed through the media and advertising industry that provides such a culture.
The extent to which something exists or not can only be measured if ‘it’ remains fixed over time,