There Is No Such Universal Category of Childhood. Discuss.
There is no universal category of Childhood. Discuss.
To have a universal category of Childhood, all first hand and second hand experiences of Childhood must be the same to a certain degree. The term “universal” demands that all definitions and takes on the term must be the same without any equivocation. The interest in the concept of Childhood in terms of Sociology has increased massively since the 1980’s (Mayall 2002, James et al. 1998, Prout 2000, Lee 2001). Many Sociologists have analysed Childhood not only in contemporary terms but also how Childhood has been understood throughout history and across cultures. This research has led many to the conclusion that Childhood differs greatly throughout these variables and the concept has and does change. As well as interpreting Childhood Sociologically over time and cultures, one must also account for how different disciplines and literature such as Biology, Psychology and the Law define what is a Child and what constitutes Childhood. Many Sociologists therefore argue whether there is an essential definition of Childhood and indeed, if there can even be one. This has generated many debates over the question of whether there can ever be a “universal category” of childhood and as such has meant that our understanding of Childhood as a naturalized term has been altered.
“The sociology of/for childhoods has been an important development, challenging a range of adult-centric conceptions and agendas along the way, not least the notion of childhood as somehow 'natural ' or 'universal’“ (Williams, Lowe, Griffiths 2008: 1-2) As mentioned previously, renewed Sociological interest in the concept of Childhood began in the 1980’s when Sociologists debated the various forms of Childhood and if there could ever be a Universal category of the term. They argued that the “common sense” understanding of Childhood that we generally understand in contemporary society is the result of historical, social, cultural and political
To have a universal category of Childhood, all first hand and second hand experiences of Childhood must be the same to a certain degree. The term “universal” demands that all definitions and takes on the term must be the same without any equivocation. The interest in the concept of Childhood in terms of Sociology has increased massively since the 1980’s (Mayall 2002, James et al. 1998, Prout 2000, Lee 2001). Many Sociologists have analysed Childhood not only in contemporary terms but also how Childhood has been understood throughout history and across cultures. This research has led many to the conclusion that Childhood differs greatly throughout these variables and the concept has and does change. As well as interpreting Childhood Sociologically over time and cultures, one must also account for how different disciplines and literature such as Biology, Psychology and the Law define what is a Child and what constitutes Childhood. Many Sociologists therefore argue whether there is an essential definition of Childhood and indeed, if there can even be one. This has generated many debates over the question of whether there can ever be a “universal category” of childhood and as such has meant that our understanding of Childhood as a naturalized term has been altered.
“The sociology of/for childhoods has been an important development, challenging a range of adult-centric conceptions and agendas along the way, not least the notion of childhood as somehow 'natural ' or 'universal’“ (Williams, Lowe, Griffiths 2008: 1-2) As mentioned previously, renewed Sociological interest in the concept of Childhood began in the 1980’s when Sociologists debated the various forms of Childhood and if there could ever be a Universal category of the term. They argued that the “common sense” understanding of Childhood that we generally understand in contemporary society is the result of historical, social, cultural and political
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