This document discusses the social construction of childhood. It explores how views of childhood have changed over time from seeing children as small adults to the modern conception where childhood is a distinct life stage. Historically, children often worked or took on domestic duties, but today childhood is seen as a period that should be protected and focused on education and play. However, some argue that commercial and technological influences are blurring the lines between childhood and adulthood. The roles and experiences of children vary greatly around the world.

1. ChildhoodChildhood
Part 1: The social construction ofPart 1: The social construction of
childhoodchildhood
L.O to understand theL.O to understand the
changing role of childrenchanging role of children
in familiesin families

2. Questions to get you thinking;Questions to get you thinking;
 What is childhood?What is childhood?
 Should childhood be aShould childhood be a
particularly happy time?particularly happy time?
 Why/why not?Why/why not?
 Do you think it is a good idea toDo you think it is a good idea to
make children labour for amake children labour for a
living?living?
 Are your views on childhoodAre your views on childhood
traditional or a recenttraditional or a recent
development?development?

3. Some ContrastingSome Contrasting
Experiences of childrenExperiences of children
around the worldaround the world

4. Domestic LabourDomestic Labour

5. Child labourChild labour
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), some
250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 work for a
living, worldwide.

6. Child SoldiersChild Soldiers
<>
•In 1998 it was
estimated that
up to 300,000
children were
actively involved
in armed conflict
in government
armed forces,
government
militias and in a
range of armed
opposition
groups.

7. PersecutionPersecution

8. The Social Construction ofThe Social Construction of
ChildhoodChildhood
 Phillip Aires (1962) suggested that ourPhillip Aires (1962) suggested that our
contemporary conception of childhood is acontemporary conception of childhood is a
social constructsocial construct
 In pre-industrial society there was no suchIn pre-industrial society there was no such
divide between adults and children;divide between adults and children;
children wore adult style clothes and werechildren wore adult style clothes and were
employed in the same contextemployed in the same context
 Children were seen as small adultsChildren were seen as small adults
 Attitudes towards children had changedAttitudes towards children had changed
significantly by the mid 1800s, by this timesignificantly by the mid 1800s, by this time
there was some different styles of clothingthere was some different styles of clothing
for upper-class childrenfor upper-class children

9. Childhood Part 2:Childhood Part 2:
Contemporary IssuesContemporary Issues
L.O to understand the changingL.O to understand the changing
role of children in familiesrole of children in families

10. Write down any restrictions on
young people and children
 Eg voting, driving, number of
children allowed in shops at a
time

11. A March of Progress?A March of Progress?
 Functionalist sociologists argue that theFunctionalist sociologists argue that the
changing status of children in society ischanging status of children in society is
part of a march of progresspart of a march of progress
 This ideas asserts that children’s livesThis ideas asserts that children’s lives
have improvedhave improved
 This is evident in the amount ofThis is evident in the amount of
revenue devoted to education, healthrevenue devoted to education, health
care and the protection of children’scare and the protection of children’s
rightsrights
 However, this approach has beenHowever, this approach has been
criticised by conflict approaches thatcriticised by conflict approaches that
suggest this theory to be over-simplifiedsuggest this theory to be over-simplified
 Do Children have more rights orDo Children have more rights or
restrictions?restrictions?

12. The Child-centred SocietyThe Child-centred Society
 To what extent is the phrase children should beTo what extent is the phrase children should be
seen and not heard relevant today?seen and not heard relevant today?
 Aries argued that we now have aAries argued that we now have a ‘cult of‘cult of
childhood’childhood’ meaning that society is very childmeaning that society is very child
centredcentred
 We can see examples of how much of theWe can see examples of how much of the
available leisure facilities are created withavailable leisure facilities are created with
children in mindchildren in mind
 This is also eviden in theThis is also eviden in the legislationlegislation that isthat is
designed to protect childrendesigned to protect children
 To what extent is the phrase children should beTo what extent is the phrase children should be
seen and not heard relevant today?seen and not heard relevant today?
 Aries argued that we now have aAries argued that we now have a ‘cult of‘cult of
childhood’childhood’ meaning that society is very childmeaning that society is very child
centredcentred
 We can see examples of how much of theWe can see examples of how much of the
available leisure facilities are created withavailable leisure facilities are created with
children in mindchildren in mind
 This is also eviden in theThis is also eviden in the legislationlegislation that isthat is
designed to protect childrendesigned to protect children
 To what extent is the phrase children should beTo what extent is the phrase children should be
seen and not heard relevant today?seen and not heard relevant today?
 Aries argued that we now have aAries argued that we now have a ‘cult of‘cult of
childhood’childhood’ meaning that society is very childmeaning that society is very child
centredcentred
 We can see examples of how much of theWe can see examples of how much of the
available leisure facilities are created withavailable leisure facilities are created with
children in mindchildren in mind
 This is also evident in theThis is also evident in the legislationlegislation that isthat is
designed to protect childrendesigned to protect children

13. The Disappearance of ChildhoodThe Disappearance of Childhood
 According to Postman television isAccording to Postman television is
blurring the distinction betweenblurring the distinction between
childhood and adulthood, because itchildhood and adulthood, because it
makes information available to all inmakes information available to all in
spite of literary levelsspite of literary levels
 Phillips (1997) also argues that popularPhillips (1997) also argues that popular
culture encourages girls to embrace aculture encourages girls to embrace a
sexual identity at a younger agesexual identity at a younger age

14. The Toxic ChildhoodThe Toxic Childhood
 Palmer (2006) discussesPalmer (2006) discusses
cultural changes that affectcultural changes that affect
children in today’s societychildren in today’s society
 She argues that children areShe argues that children are
pacified with TV, video gamespacified with TV, video games
and junk foodand junk food

15. Choose a side from the twoChoose a side from the two
statements below and create anstatements below and create an
argument using evidence andargument using evidence and
examplesexamples
 Children are now more equal toChildren are now more equal to
adults today than ever beforeadults today than ever before
 Children are now moreChildren are now more
dependent on adults than everdependent on adults than ever
beforebefore