Is Childhood Disappearing?

Is Childhood Disappearing?

1. Postman: It Is Disappearing At Dazzling Speed

   • Due to the disappearance of children's traditional games, the growing similarity of adult and children's clothing and children committing adult crimes like murder.
     • Childhood was created after Middle Ages when adults learnt to read, giving them power over illiterate children. This is the information hierarchy. Childhood is disappearing now because new media such as television means that children can access the same information as adults, breaking information hierarchy.

2. Opie & Opie: There's Still Separate Children's Culture

   • Eg. Children often play with imaginary friends and watch specialised children's TV. Their study contradicts Postman because they found that just as in the past, children create their own independent culture separate to that of adults.

3. Palmer: Children Have A Toxic Upbringing

   • Childhood has not disappeared, instead rapid technological and cultural changes over past 25 years have damaged children's emotional and physical development.
     • Eg. gaming leads to lack of exercise and obesity as well as affecting social skills and intellectual ability.

4. Globalisation of Western Childhood

   • International humanitarian and welfare agencies exported Western norms of childhood to other parts of the world and thus childhood as we know it has become globalised.
     • Eg. By campaigning against child labour, agencies impose Western views of what children should and should not do. Hence, childhood is spreading, not disappearing.