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childhood is a social construction
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Social construction?

• Means that the important characteristics of
  something, such as childhood, health and other
  forms of deviance are created and influenced by
  the attitudes, actions and interpretations of
  members of society.
• NOTE. Societies are individual in the way they
  have different social constructions, childhood is
  a important feature in some societies but doesn't
  really exist in others.

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Childhood in contemporary western society

• In contemporary Britain and in most western
  societies people take it for granted that
  children are different from adults. Children are
  viewed as innocent and vulnerable who need
  protecting from the dangers of the adult world.
  We view childhood as a completely different
  period of time away from the adult life. As a
  result adults have to a extent constructed a
  separate world for children in the way...
• Children are protected from adult dangers by laws
  (e.g. Negligence)
• They have cheaper travel and special foods,
  clothes, toys
• Special areas designed only for children (e.g.
  Indoor play areas)
• Special arrangements made for them by the state
  like schools and child benefits.
• We design theses features to protect children in
  their best interest as a result of childrens
  natural biological immaturity, adults construct
  childhood

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HOWEVER!!!

• Sociologists argue that the identity and status
  of children, and childhood as a separate phase of
  life have been created by society and social
  attitudes and are not set by biological
  immaturity
• They argue that childhood is a social
  construction

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ChildhoodConstruction rather than natural

• There is evidence supporting the idea that
  childhood is a social construction opposed to a
  natural product of biological immaturity (society
  creates childhood, rather then it being a
  biological product and hence non universal)
• View of nature of children and childhood has
  changed through history in way of status,
  responsibilities and treatment
• The difference between children's status and
  others factors even in the same society
• The difference between children's status and
  others factors even in the same society The
  differing status, responsibilities and treatment
  of children in different culture

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1.How history has effected the social
construction of childhood (Britain)

• The social construction of childhood as being the
  separate phase of life as we know today is a
  relatively modern development. It has developed
  and changed along with the building of
  development and change in our societies views and
  attitudes. Just further proof that our childhood
  is a social construction
• Childhood experience in pre-industrial society
• Children viewed as tiny adults no real
  difference between children and adults. (Philippe
  Aries 1973)
• Children worked from a young age and were viewed
  as economic assets means of bringing in money
  and supporting the family.
• Children joined in similar leisure activities to
  adults and could be punished for criminal
  offences.
• No real distinction between childhood and
  adulthood during this period
• Early Industrial Period and Childhood
• Children during this time worked alongside
  adults.
• Working class children in particular continued to
  work in the factories, mines and mills.
• However, advances in public health and medicine
  led to a decline in the infant mortality rate
  amongst the middle classes.
• This led to a change in attitudes amongst the
  middle classes to how children were viewed

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1.How history has effected the social
construction of childhood (Britain)

• Later Industrial Period and Childhood
• Mid 19th century Factory/Mine acts meant children
  were no longer able to work.
• Children no longer economic assets.
• 1870 Education Act Children need to be
  supported.
• Further advances in sanitation and medicine meant
  a decline in the infant mortality rate amongst
  the working class.
• This led to a decline in the birth rate couples
  had fewer children, because the children they had
  were more likely to survive. Also, children no
  longer economic assets.
• This led to a change in attitudes towards
  children children came to be seen as different
  to adults and in need of love, care and support.
• 20th Century
• Child centred society Children are viewed
  differently to adults and are viewed as in need
  of support and protection. Society is geared
  towards putting the interests of children first.
• Childhood has come to be seen as a separate
  category from adulthood.
• Childrens toys, clothes, programmes, books,
  foods etc -

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2. Differences between children in the same
society

• Its a fact that the concept and experience of
  childhood are not the same even in the same
  society. In contemporary Britain different
  stratified features like social class, ethnicity,
  and gender mean that not all children have the
  same experiences in childhood.
• Around 29 of children in Britain in 2005-6 were
  living in officially defined poverty.
• Asian girls will often have a different and much
  restricted childhood than boys.
• Low income parents can force their children into
  jobs as soon as possible (paper round) in order
  to supplement not getting pocket money or in some
  cases to contribute to the family income

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3. Cross-cultural differences in childhood

• Looking at childhood from a cross-cultural
  perspective gives you a much more diverse
  varieties of childhoods across the world. The
  freedom and detachment from adult
  responsibilities that's experienced from children
  in a western societies is not found in all
  societies
• In developing countries the more simpler
  societies the period of childhood and adolescence
  before adulthood does not even exist. Children
  take on adult roles as soon as physically
  possible with taking on adult working roles and
  even roles of armed soldiers to ensure the
  economic survival of the family
• (www.child-soldiers.com) suggested that between
  2001-2004 child soldiers were involved in
  conflict in 27 countries around the world. With
  children being brutalized and killed.
• There is seen to be no social construction for
  childhood

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3. Cross-cultural differences in childhood (child
labour)

• Taking child labour for example it does not
  happen to the extent in western societies as in
  other societies because of this social
  construction of childhood we have, we do not view
  child labour within the foundations of our
  construction. Therefore when child labour is
  expressed in our society could it be argued that
  we look at it in more of a non-existant light
  hearted way
• opposed to the harsh reality of other cultures
  and societies.....so how do you view it?
• Light hearted http//www.youtube.com/watch?v79ExP
  PqGY4I
• Harsh reality http//www.youtube.com/watch?vq4CWt
  Fzj0PofeaturePlayListp4AD1C01633218A7Bplaynex
  t1playnext_fromPLindex29