book 4 chap 6

book 4 chap 6

1. social construction of childhood problems

   • socially constructed problems are things that are viewed as being outside the social order of a particular society
     • felt that as a problem they need to be actioned against
       • in regards to childhood they are dependant on the way childhood is constructed
         • minority world
           • romantic view of childhood as separate from adults, child in need of protection
             • link wirth book 1
             • a child is aged 0-18 according to UNCRC
         • majority world
           • child hood is not dependant on chronological age
             • Blanchet (bk 1 p 106)
               • expectations of children are linked to circumstances rather than chronological age
   • political and social ideologies help to construct something as a problem. They shape current local opinion
     • constructed by political parties, charities
       • banardos - removal of children from poor families
   • all about allocation of blame and responsibility and action against the problem

2. MORAL PANIC

   • a state of public anxiety in response to a situation which breaches the moral standards of a society
     • caused by media uproar often in response to incorrect statistical/published data
       • as n Ortiz and Briggs
         • link to Sokal report bk 4 p268

3. RESEARCH

   • role researcher imposes upon themselves can help to shape an issue as a problem
     • Ortiz and Briggs and crack babies
   • positivist approach
     • Frank et al
       • testing a hypothesis/validity of a statement by measuring and controlling relevant variables (influencing factors
   • comparative appraoch
     • relies on the ability of the researcher to identify the variables which influence outcome

4. relationship between researcher and researched

   • researchers often treat the people they are researching inc children as objects
     • children often not given a voice
       • Ortiz and briggs crack babies
       • over past decade calls for this to change
         • kellett (2010) bk 4 p 273
         • methodological arguments to support this
           • only by researching with children can understanding of their lives be produced
             • only children truly understand and can grant access to the subculture of childhood
               • link with bk 3
         • researchers and policy makers assume they what is wrong with children's lives and what needs done
           • sometimes though those who are seen as victims donot see themselves as this
   • doing research on people infringes on their autonomy ad reinforces the inequalities they face