Explain The Different Sociological Views On The Changes In The Experiences Of Childhood In The Past 50 Years

50 years.
There are many views that different sociologists have about the experiences of childhood in the past 50 years. Overtime society has become child centred, and childhood itself has been socially constructed by the rest of society.
Neil Postman (1982) argues that childhood is gradually disappearing. His statement is connected to two ideas that state about technology and social blurring. His first idea about technology is that the growth of television is taking over, so there is unlimited access to the adult world which involves, sex, drugs, violence and suffering. His other idea is that the connection between adults and children is becoming too close together. He states that children are becoming “little adults”, their games disappearing, speaking, behaving and dressing like they are adults. The traditional features that mark adulthood are just seen as the norm now, for example getting a job, leaving home etc. David brooks criticises Postman’s argument by saying that parents are taking more control and are more concerned about the safety and wellbeing of their children. He argues that is isn’t childhood that is disappearing, it is children themselves.
Sue Palmer (2007) argues that adults were the ones who were benefitting from the modern technology that has become a major part in everyone’s lives. She states that these are poisoning children’s minds as they are used towards children too often, for example leaving them in front of a TV, giving them electronic games and feeding them junk food instead of nurturing and spending quality time with them. Her opinion is that children are given a “Toxic Childhood”. She states that this junk food is a part of the toxic childhood because it is easily accessible, cheap for parents to buy, easy for parents to give their children it rather than cooking a healthy meal and above all it is making the children of today’s generation reach obesity. 50 years ago, junk food was rarely available. Parents spent the time to cook a healthy meal for the children and the male partner which helped to keep them healthy. Children are denied the traditional childhood that they should have. Young people are exposed to explicit items on the media which could effectively lead to self-harming, smoking, alcohol abuse, violence, and teenage pregnancy. Evans and Chandler (2006) found that peer pressure was a high and important aspect in the setback of childhood. Nowadays children are subjected to bullying, name teasing, and even violence if they did not have the latest ‘technology’ or ‘fashion trends’. This bullying could eventually lead the child to have ‘suicidal’ thoughts and they may feel that there is no one to talk to. Evans and Chandler found out that it was poorer families felt this pressure most as they could not afford to buy ‘in fashion’ items, both for themselves or their child/children.
Childhood has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. These days, even though children are denied the traditional childhood that would have been had 50 years ago, they have a better and a higher standard of living. More children are surviving childbirth due to the medical equipment and the anaesthetics that are provided to help with the pain, also antiseptics are provided to prevent infections. These are used daily to help a woman with pregnancy and to cope with the pain. 50 years ago doctors used a chemical called gas which helped with labour.
There are more opportunities for children these days such as free education up until the age of 19, job opportunities for their later life, free medical attention etc. Parents get child benefit, which helps support the parents into providing for their children, this stops once the child has reached the age of 18. 50 years ago, education still had to be paid for and child benefit existed but was not as much as we get today.
Experiences of childhood have changed to become more socialised. Boys and Girls have been socialised into different behaviours which were determined by their gender. Girls may be subjected to stricter roles and more protection as they are seen as vulnerable, whereas boys are not controlled as much when they reach the age of adolescence.
Overall there are many different sociologist views on the changes and the experiences of children over the last 50 years. Postman arguing that childhood is disappearing and Palmer saying that childhood is becoming “toxic. Some good like more educational opportunities and some bad such as more violence and child abuse.