What Is Social Constructionism?
Social constructionism is a theoretical perspective looking at how social reality, knowledge and culture is 'constructed' over language (the medium where we express thoughts and feelings) as well as discourse (what is said or written). Social constructionism gives us a theoretical tool enabling us to look at concepts such as 'childhood' and at how these concepts inform thinking, shapes our institutions as well as informing policy and practice. K218, Learning Guide 4, Section 4.3) O’Dell et al, 2011, p. 4 cites in that two theories are drawled upon: social constructionism and social ecological theory. It is debated that these theories helps us to see the world a little better. The Social constructionist theory argues that knowledge and culture
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(the difference between childhood and adulthood) is shaped through language and discourse (not just the words that we use and the interaction we have, however also the broad social practices that construct the world around us). Language and discourse vary across time and space. So the ideas about childhood as distinct from adulthood and widely held ideas about children and young people can be seen as not to be fixed however subject to change. Therefore, in this essay, two main points will be addresses which are the ideas which influence how we see children and families which is about social construction and the other part will be about practice like if we see children and families in a certain way, how do we treat them, To summarise, conclusions will be drawn about how do ideas about childhood and families influence practice.
Moreover, many ideas can influence how children and families are understood by practitioners.
Also, there are different constructions of childhood over time/history as well as in locations/places, but what makes construction work is discourse which is the story, the dialogue and in some cases the media. Then, one of the dominant constructions of children and young people today is that they are seen as apprentices. (K218, Learning Guide 4, Section 4.4) cites that one of the dominant social constructions of childhood is seen as a time of apprenticeship when children and young people are socialised and educated and when children are prepared for adulthood. (Guardian, 2013) shows an image of children in a school environment. Moreover the children in the school are dressed in school uniform, a place where they go to learn and start their transition from childhood to adulthood. Thus they are preparing for adulthood through learning how to socialise as well as receiving an education that will enable them become employable as …show more content…
adults.
In addition to this, there are a many different and sometimes contradictory disclosures of childhood and youth today. Subsequently another dominant construction of children and young people is that they are linked with ‘our’ future. (Learning Guide 4, Section 4.4) cites that one of the ways in which children and/or young people are socially constructed that they are linked with 'our' future. (Daily Mail, 2013) shows an image of a family of one adult and 3 young children. The parent in this picture has a duty of care of her children because of their very young ages. However, the mother might also be teaching them the family's beliefs, values and expectations as well as providing them with the guidance in order for them to live in society and succeed in the future. In other words, the mother probably has hope that her children will grow up to be well rounded adults from the teaching and guidance she has provided them with for the the future of her family and the family name.
Furthermore, ideas about childhood as distinct from adulthood and broadly held ideas about children and young people can be understood as not stable.
However, it can change. (Learning guide 4, Section 4.3) talks about the present-day opinions of children taken from the YouGov survey. The YouGov data with association with Barnardo's demonstrates a view of children as being out of control as well as being problematic. Moreover, results from the YouGov/Barnardo’s data exposes an intricate picture of adults’ opinions of children and young people where there is worry by some that children are seen as out of control. Yet, the opinions are shared between individuals who look at children and/or young people as an intimidation and unsafe, and along with individuals who disagree intensely with such idea. Although, the view of children as well as young people as being dangerous and/or out of control is grounded on strong evidence in the British media, the view of children and/or young people as being in need of help and protection is also a very dominant reality in the present day. In sum, children, young people as well as parents thoughts at different instances in time can get a taken for granted status. Plus this is reinforced by the eras legislation and policy, dominating cultural values and societal expectations of men and/or women and children and/or adults. As a result, these issues disturb the environment in which work with children as well as young people
occurs.
Also, there are also many other limitation of social constructionism and a key feature of the social constructionism approach is to scrutinise or deconstruct, how taken for granted realities about children, young individuals and families are made as well as maintained. This includes posing questions such as who are marginal and/or who are problematic? For example (Arai 2009 cites in Leverett, 2011, p. 120) that although fostering is seen as a generally valued role, foster children are barely constructed in positive ways, making implications in the way sons and daughters of foster carers are looked at. In addition, while fosters carers often take care of some of the most at risk children and young people in this society, yet the children in foster care children are seen, on the whole by the media as unsafe as well as a threat to individuals. Thus, illustrations of the media produce unfair anxieties that people who come into interaction with foster children are necessarily at risk from their actions. And there is not many literature that supports foster children and their likely contributions to families and the broader society.
In addition another social constructionism limitation is through negative and unfair results from research of young people and gangs. (Cohen 1985 cites in Leverett, 2011, p. 157) that the 10 year anniversary of the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) that was presented by the Section 1 of 1998 Crime and Disorder Act was reached England and Wales endorsing questions about how effective this debatable measure has been. However the methods and procedures of ASBO management (Acceptable Behaviour Contract, electronic tagging, naming and shaming etc.) did not breakdown the link between nuisance behaviour as well as crime as disperse discipline and the power to criminalise yet broader groups of young people. As a result, ASB opened up entirely new variety of fears and worries about the youth. Thus, (Tonry 2004 cites in Leverett, 2011, p. 157) that the government just about succeeded in making a little problem much bigger.
If children and families are seen in a certain way, it affects the way they are treated by practitioners... Although mass surveillance has increased and to some degree everyone if affected by it some groups like children young people and families are more problematic that others and the solutions involve greater monitoring, scrutiny and regulation of their behaviour. (Parton, 2006 cites in in Leverett, 2011, p. 44) that in the last twentieth century, the monitoring of children, young people and families has amplified and increased because government have sought to answer to perceived threats to and from children as well as more broad worries about children’s welfare and family life. In conclusion, the surveillance of the young is frequently justified by reference to a need to ensure their more general welfare and wellbeing as well as specific aspects of it such as their educational achievement and employability.
Practitioners having knowledge of social construction like Childhood is a time where innocence and vulnerability needs protecting, enables the way practitioners scrutinise or deconstruct ideas taken for granted about children and young people. (Papadopoulos, 2010 cites in Leverett, 2011, p. 44) that the Home Offices sponsored review of sexualisation of young people argued that there is evidence of the intense negative effects of sexualised images and messages in the case of their mental and their physical health, their attitudes and their belief and praise an extension of regulation and control: games consoles should be sold to people with parental controls that are already switched on. Also buyers can wish to unlock the console if they want to allow access to adult as well as online content. They also say that such idea should be stretched to children friendly computers as well as mobile phones in which adult content is filtered out via default.
(the difference between childhood and adulthood) is shaped through language and discourse (not just the words that we use and the interaction we have, however also the broad social practices that construct the world around us). Language and discourse vary across time and space. So the ideas about childhood as distinct from adulthood and widely held ideas about children and young people can be seen as not to be fixed however subject to change. Therefore, in this essay, two main points will be addresses which are the ideas which influence how we see children and families which is about social construction and the other part will be about practice like if we see children and families in a certain way, how do we treat them, To summarise, conclusions will be drawn about how do ideas about childhood and families influence practice.
Moreover, many ideas can influence how children and families are understood by practitioners.
Also, there are different constructions of childhood over time/history as well as in locations/places, but what makes construction work is discourse which is the story, the dialogue and in some cases the media. Then, one of the dominant constructions of children and young people today is that they are seen as apprentices. (K218, Learning Guide 4, Section 4.4) cites that one of the dominant social constructions of childhood is seen as a time of apprenticeship when children and young people are socialised and educated and when children are prepared for adulthood. (Guardian, 2013) shows an image of children in a school environment. Moreover the children in the school are dressed in school uniform, a place where they go to learn and start their transition from childhood to adulthood. Thus they are preparing for adulthood through learning how to socialise as well as receiving an education that will enable them become employable as …show more content…
adults.
In addition to this, there are a many different and sometimes contradictory disclosures of childhood and youth today. Subsequently another dominant construction of children and young people is that they are linked with ‘our’ future. (Learning Guide 4, Section 4.4) cites that one of the ways in which children and/or young people are socially constructed that they are linked with 'our' future. (Daily Mail, 2013) shows an image of a family of one adult and 3 young children. The parent in this picture has a duty of care of her children because of their very young ages. However, the mother might also be teaching them the family's beliefs, values and expectations as well as providing them with the guidance in order for them to live in society and succeed in the future. In other words, the mother probably has hope that her children will grow up to be well rounded adults from the teaching and guidance she has provided them with for the the future of her family and the family name.
Furthermore, ideas about childhood as distinct from adulthood and broadly held ideas about children and young people can be understood as not stable.
However, it can change. (Learning guide 4, Section 4.3) talks about the present-day opinions of children taken from the YouGov survey. The YouGov data with association with Barnardo's demonstrates a view of children as being out of control as well as being problematic. Moreover, results from the YouGov/Barnardo’s data exposes an intricate picture of adults’ opinions of children and young people where there is worry by some that children are seen as out of control. Yet, the opinions are shared between individuals who look at children and/or young people as an intimidation and unsafe, and along with individuals who disagree intensely with such idea. Although, the view of children as well as young people as being dangerous and/or out of control is grounded on strong evidence in the British media, the view of children and/or young people as being in need of help and protection is also a very dominant reality in the present day. In sum, children, young people as well as parents thoughts at different instances in time can get a taken for granted status. Plus this is reinforced by the eras legislation and policy, dominating cultural values and societal expectations of men and/or women and children and/or adults. As a result, these issues disturb the environment in which work with children as well as young people
occurs.
Also, there are also many other limitation of social constructionism and a key feature of the social constructionism approach is to scrutinise or deconstruct, how taken for granted realities about children, young individuals and families are made as well as maintained. This includes posing questions such as who are marginal and/or who are problematic? For example (Arai 2009 cites in Leverett, 2011, p. 120) that although fostering is seen as a generally valued role, foster children are barely constructed in positive ways, making implications in the way sons and daughters of foster carers are looked at. In addition, while fosters carers often take care of some of the most at risk children and young people in this society, yet the children in foster care children are seen, on the whole by the media as unsafe as well as a threat to individuals. Thus, illustrations of the media produce unfair anxieties that people who come into interaction with foster children are necessarily at risk from their actions. And there is not many literature that supports foster children and their likely contributions to families and the broader society.
In addition another social constructionism limitation is through negative and unfair results from research of young people and gangs. (Cohen 1985 cites in Leverett, 2011, p. 157) that the 10 year anniversary of the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) that was presented by the Section 1 of 1998 Crime and Disorder Act was reached England and Wales endorsing questions about how effective this debatable measure has been. However the methods and procedures of ASBO management (Acceptable Behaviour Contract, electronic tagging, naming and shaming etc.) did not breakdown the link between nuisance behaviour as well as crime as disperse discipline and the power to criminalise yet broader groups of young people. As a result, ASB opened up entirely new variety of fears and worries about the youth. Thus, (Tonry 2004 cites in Leverett, 2011, p. 157) that the government just about succeeded in making a little problem much bigger.
If children and families are seen in a certain way, it affects the way they are treated by practitioners... Although mass surveillance has increased and to some degree everyone if affected by it some groups like children young people and families are more problematic that others and the solutions involve greater monitoring, scrutiny and regulation of their behaviour. (Parton, 2006 cites in in Leverett, 2011, p. 44) that in the last twentieth century, the monitoring of children, young people and families has amplified and increased because government have sought to answer to perceived threats to and from children as well as more broad worries about children’s welfare and family life. In conclusion, the surveillance of the young is frequently justified by reference to a need to ensure their more general welfare and wellbeing as well as specific aspects of it such as their educational achievement and employability.
Practitioners having knowledge of social construction like Childhood is a time where innocence and vulnerability needs protecting, enables the way practitioners scrutinise or deconstruct ideas taken for granted about children and young people. (Papadopoulos, 2010 cites in Leverett, 2011, p. 44) that the Home Offices sponsored review of sexualisation of young people argued that there is evidence of the intense negative effects of sexualised images and messages in the case of their mental and their physical health, their attitudes and their belief and praise an extension of regulation and control: games consoles should be sold to people with parental controls that are already switched on. Also buyers can wish to unlock the console if they want to allow access to adult as well as online content. They also say that such idea should be stretched to children friendly computers as well as mobile phones in which adult content is filtered out via default.