Examine different sociological views on
“Examine different sociological views on changes in the experience of childhood in the last 50 years or so.”(24 marks)
Childhood is a special time of life; where children are fundamentally different from adults, it is time that is based solely on society. Children are seen as physically and emotionally incompetent and therefore need influence and guidance of adults to be prepared with life skills needed to be independent; children are seen as most important.
According to Aries (1962), childhood can be defined as being a social construct; something that is created and defined by society. Children had been seen as being like ‘mini adults’ and being an economic liability rather than being treated like children and being unconditionally loved by their parents. The elements of the modern childhood gradually began to emerge from the 13th century onwards. Schools started to specialise purely on the education of the young. There was a growing distinction between adult and children clothing. By the 18th century there was a sign of the growing child-centred of family life, mostly among the middle classes. According to Aries these developments lead to the ‘cult of childhood’. He argues that we have moved from a world that did not see childhood as in any way special, to a world that is obsessed with childhood. He describes the 20th century as the ‘century of the child’. Some sociologists have criticised Aries for arguing that childhood did not exist in the past. Linda Pollock (1983) argues that it is more correct to say that in the middle ages society simply had a different view of childhood.
Aries definition of childhood as a social construction can also be supported by cross-cultural differences and more specifically Punch (2001).Punch had studied children in Bolivia and found that at age 5 children were expected to work and take responsibilities. This cultural variation shows childhood to be a social construction as if it were biological everyone would have the same
Childhood is a special time of life; where children are fundamentally different from adults, it is time that is based solely on society. Children are seen as physically and emotionally incompetent and therefore need influence and guidance of adults to be prepared with life skills needed to be independent; children are seen as most important.
According to Aries (1962), childhood can be defined as being a social construct; something that is created and defined by society. Children had been seen as being like ‘mini adults’ and being an economic liability rather than being treated like children and being unconditionally loved by their parents. The elements of the modern childhood gradually began to emerge from the 13th century onwards. Schools started to specialise purely on the education of the young. There was a growing distinction between adult and children clothing. By the 18th century there was a sign of the growing child-centred of family life, mostly among the middle classes. According to Aries these developments lead to the ‘cult of childhood’. He argues that we have moved from a world that did not see childhood as in any way special, to a world that is obsessed with childhood. He describes the 20th century as the ‘century of the child’. Some sociologists have criticised Aries for arguing that childhood did not exist in the past. Linda Pollock (1983) argues that it is more correct to say that in the middle ages society simply had a different view of childhood.
Aries definition of childhood as a social construction can also be supported by cross-cultural differences and more specifically Punch (2001).Punch had studied children in Bolivia and found that at age 5 children were expected to work and take responsibilities. This cultural variation shows childhood to be a social construction as if it were biological everyone would have the same