Examine the ways in which childhood can be said to be socially constructed
Examine the ways in which childhood can be said to be socially constructed.
(24 MARKS)
Some sociologists say that childhood is a social construction one of the reasons for this is that childhood seems to differ worldwide between different cultures there has been much research such as investigations into this, including separateness between children and adults, cultural differences and historical differences.
Jane Pilcher speaks about separateness between adults and children. She notes that the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life stage, and children in our society occupy a separate status from adults. Their differences from adults is also emphasised through differences in dress, especially for young children, through products and services specially for children, such as toys, food, books, entertainments, play areas and so on. This separateness is evidence of social construction as adults control what children are allowed to do and the types of clothing they are allowed to wear.
Another example of social construction is cross-cultural differences. A sociologist that looks at this is Lowell Holmes' they did a study of a salmon village and found out that 'too young' was never a reason to stop a child from doing a job, whether it be handling dangerous tools or carrying extremely heavy loads, if a child believes he is able to undertake this particular job his parents do not object. Another sociologist to look a cross-culture differences is Raymond Firth. He found that among the Tikopia of the western pacific, doing as you are told by a grown-up is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child, not a right to be expected by the adult. This is evidence that childhood is a social construct as it showing that childhood is different for each society, suggesting that it has been brought about by the culture otherwise childhood would be similar worldwide, were it isn't.
Another
(24 MARKS)
Some sociologists say that childhood is a social construction one of the reasons for this is that childhood seems to differ worldwide between different cultures there has been much research such as investigations into this, including separateness between children and adults, cultural differences and historical differences.
Jane Pilcher speaks about separateness between adults and children. She notes that the most important feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life stage, and children in our society occupy a separate status from adults. Their differences from adults is also emphasised through differences in dress, especially for young children, through products and services specially for children, such as toys, food, books, entertainments, play areas and so on. This separateness is evidence of social construction as adults control what children are allowed to do and the types of clothing they are allowed to wear.
Another example of social construction is cross-cultural differences. A sociologist that looks at this is Lowell Holmes' they did a study of a salmon village and found out that 'too young' was never a reason to stop a child from doing a job, whether it be handling dangerous tools or carrying extremely heavy loads, if a child believes he is able to undertake this particular job his parents do not object. Another sociologist to look a cross-culture differences is Raymond Firth. He found that among the Tikopia of the western pacific, doing as you are told by a grown-up is regarded as a concession to be granted by the child, not a right to be expected by the adult. This is evidence that childhood is a social construct as it showing that childhood is different for each society, suggesting that it has been brought about by the culture otherwise childhood would be similar worldwide, were it isn't.
Another