Explain The Ways In Which Childhood Can Be Said To Be Socially Constructed

‘Examine the ways in which childhood can be said to be socially constructed’

A social construct is an idea or concept that has been created and defined within society. Many sociologists argue that childhood is a social construct, as it isn’t a fixed, universal idea, and differs in different areas and time periods- they believe that childhood as we know it is a recent phenomenon. Aries argues that in the Middle Ages ‘the idea of childhood did not exist’.

Within modern Western society children are seen as very different and separate to adults. Childhood is seen as a precious time in someone’s life, and so children’s innocence is protected from adult life. For example Pilcher stated that the most important aspect of childhood was the separateness from adult life, which can be shown through laws which regulate and dictate what children can and can’t do, for
It is believed that they are incapable of looking after, and being responsible for themselves, meaning that they needed a period within their life in which their parents or responsible adults could nurture and socialise them. This is what is viewed in the modern western society as the social construct of
He said that the vision of childhood was ‘disappearing at a dazzling speed’ as children are rebelling against the label of ‘innocence and dependency’ that has been placed upon them. This can be shown through the growing closeness in the position of children and adults, for example children’s rights becoming more equal to adults, children’s clothing becoming more mature, children wearing makeup, smoking and drinking at a much younger age, and in some extreme cases children committing ‘adult crimes’ such as murder, rape, and