Assess Sociological Explanations For Changes In The Status Of Childhood

Assess sociological explanations for changes in the status of childhood?

In this essay I will be talking about the reasons and beliefs on how the status of childhood has changed. Something that is socially constructed is created and designed by society. Differences in childhood can be seen across different times, places and cultures. How society influences what is right and wrong to help develop your child correctly this can be through the form of TV and books. Different cultures have different opinions on how children are viewed and ultimately treated. Ruth Benedict (1934) argues that children in simpler, non-industrial societies are generally treated differently from their modern western counterparts. Western countries have a different opinion on children compared to non-western countries. Western countries believe that children should have access to a good education and must be forced to take part in it to the age of 18 so that they have a higher chance of getting a better job in their adulthood. Unlike in western countries when you do not need to take part in education and can go straight into work once you have reached a certain age. Also in western countries they have a more relaxed attitude to their children’s sexual actions this shows that they are treated more like adults. Compared to non-western societies where there is laws that stop children having sex. In non-western cultures there is less value placed on children’s obedience to adult authority this could therefore affect their future in jobs as they will not have the correct attitude and might not listen to what they are being told to do. Aries is a historian who said that “in medieval society, the idea of childhood did not exist". He tried to prove this through paintings that were painted in medieval times. They were of children and adults dressed in the same way and doing similar jobs. He tried to say that children and adults were treated equally, however this is not a very accurate way of doing this as they are only painting and they might not be accurate and could have just been the opinion of the painter and not was actually happening, it could also be a snapshot of any one moment and not entirely true. Edward shorter (1975) said that due to the high death rates of children it encouraged neglect especially towards infants which today is the complete opposite attitude to children as they are the centre of the family. This paragraph will be about the reasons for the changes in childhood. One reason is that in the 20th century the emergence of a child centred society came through as a result there was an increase of people’s standard of living this therefore caused a major decline in the child mortality rates. Due to this less children were being conceived and it then allowed parents to focus more on them. From the 13th century onwards changes in society were starting to form through the education of children. This referred the influence of the church, which saw children as fragile creatures of god in need of discipline and protection from worldly evils. Furthermore there was a growing distinction of clothes worn by adults and children. By the 17th century an upper class boy would have an outfit reserved for him. By the 18th century handbooks on child rearing were widely available. Linda Pollock (1983) argues that society just had a different view on childhood. This shows how childhood is socially constructed. Another way of showing improvement is through the government. They have laws that aim to protect children more, these vary from them not having to work at an early age and they are forced to stay in education. The march of progress view argues that over the past few centuries, the position of children in western societies has steadily improved and today it is better than it has ever been. Aries and Shorter agree that children are more valued, protected, better cared for and educated. This is supported by the government due to the introduction of various laws; children have become more protected, cared for and treated differently to adults. In 1870 it became compulsory for all children to receive an education. This provides children with equal opportunities and gives them more chance of gaining a prosperous and stable future. The introduction of these laws has ultimately encouraged people to become more child-centred. Conflict sociologists such as Marxists and Feminists dispute the march of progress view. They argue that society is based on a conflict between different social groups such as social classes or genders. In conflict, some groups have more power, status or wealth than others. Conflict sociologists argue that the march of progress view on childhood is based on false and idealised image that ignores important inequalities. They criticise the march of progress on two grounds, inequalities between children in terms of opportunities and risk they face and that inequalities between children and adults are greater. Firestone and Holt also disagrees with the march of progress writers and says that man of the things they see positively as care and protection that benefit children really are a form of inequality and forcibly segregating children. These critics want to free children from adult control. This part of the essay will be focused on the future of childhood. Palmer (2006) says that computer games, junk food and long work by parents has damaged children’s development. This is also known as the toxic childhood. Margo and Dixon (2006) support Palmer as they found that UK youth are at or near the top of international league tables for obesity, self-harm, drug abuse, violence, sexual experiences and teenage pregnancies. In 2007 UNICEF ranked the UK 21st of 15 for children’s wellbeing. Neil Postman argues that childhood is disappearing at a dazzling speed. He points to the trend towards giving children the same rights as adults, the disappearance of traditional unsupervised games, and the growing similarity of adults and children’s clothing and even to the cases of children committing crimes. During the middle ages children and adults were treated equally and only speech was needed. Nowadays TV blurs the distinction between adulthood and childhood. This is through how clothes and games are advertised showing adults and children wearing and interacting in the same things. Due to this it is not just childhood disappearing but also adulthood.