Childhood (Sociologists)

Childhood (Sociologists)

1. Punch

   • Cross cultural differences for the social construct of childhood
     • In Bolivia, children at 5 years old are expected to take some work responsibilities in the home and community. These tasks are also expected to be taken on without question or hesitation.

2. Pilcher

   • separateness
     • children and adults are separate: this can be seen through the law
       • i.e. film ages (18, 12), dress codes, age of consent... etc

3. Aries

   • Studied paintings of children from the Middle Ages
     • Argued childhood did not exist back then: the paintings showed children performing the same tasks as the adults, wearing similar clothes ('mini adults')

4. Postman

   • 'disappearance of childhood'
     • This is due to children being given the same rights as adults
       • children are committing more serious crimes
     • this is due to television: in modern society, television blurs the line between adults and children.

5. Palmer

   • 'toxic childhood'
     • due to rapid technological changes in the past 25 years it has damaged childrens' emotional, physcial and intellectual development
       • i.e. through junk food, computer games and intensive marketing towards children.

6. Margo and Dixons

   • Reports for the UK show it is around the top for obesity, self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse for the youth.

7. Firth

   • Did studies on cross-cultural differences for children
     • in Tikopia, he found doing as an adult tells you is a choice left up to the child