SociologyExchange.co.uk Shared Resource

Brainstorm relay

• You have 90 seconds to think of as many reasons as possible for the changes in the position of children

Key Question:

AIM: TO UNDERSTAND BOTH POSITIVE AND CONFLICT VIEWS OF CHILDHOOD

HAS THE POSITION OF CHILDREN IN

BRITAIN IMPROVED?

THINK OF KEY WORDS WE

ASSOCIATE WITH CHILDHOOD……..

Fun

happiness

innocence

Love

playing

The positive view of childhood

March in progress• Over the past few centuries, the position of

children has improved

• Today children are more valued, better cared for, protected etc

• The family and society have become more child centred!!

But could childhood be disappearing?

POSTMAN argues that childhood is disappearing…….

1) The growth of television means that there are no more secrets from children. Television gives them unlimited access to the adult world. They are exposed to the ‘real world’ of sex, disaster, death, suffering.

2) ‘Social blurring’- little distinction between adults and children. Children's games disappearing, they speak, dress and act more like adults.

Brooks (2001) has criticised Postman……

• But evidence suggests that adults are taking more and more control of children’s lives- cotton wool society!!!

• parents are more obsessed with safety, and ever more concerned with defining boundaries for their kids

• Perhaps it is children that are disappearing and not childhood- smaller % of our overall population today, and getting smaller...

Toxic childhood- Sue Palmer (2007)

• Expresses a similar viewpoint to Postman- Rapid technological and cultural changes are harming children

• Parents are spending less time with their children and are more than happy to allow technologies, such as video games, occupy their children’s home upbringing!

• Children are deprived of traditional childhood and family life- not so child centred now!!!

But it is not all positive...

Conflict view• Marxist and feminists • View society as based on inequality- dominant

group oppress the subordinate• Argue that the ‘march of progress’ view of

childhood is based on a false and idealised image that ignores INEQUALITIES!

Inequalities among children

• Not all children will share the same status or experience of childhood

Inequality Research evidence

Gender differences

Ethnic differences

Class differences

Inequalities between children and adults

• March of Progress view the power that parents have over a children as a positive thing, benefiting and protecting children

• But- conflict theorists see this power as a form of oppression and control

• Adults are able to keep children in their place, making them powerless, dependent and reliant on others!!

Neglect and abuse• Dark side of the family where parents control

their children through physical and mental abuse

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9njhcQUlXc

Inequalities between children and adults

What other ways do adults have

control over children?

Task

• Adults have control over children’s.....• Space• Time • Bodies • Access to resources

• Read pages 33-34 and make notes

So has the position of children improved?Tennis

One of you will have the view of march of progress, the other conflict

You will rally with each other, arguing whether, according to your view, childhood has improved or not!

The person who can rally the most points back, supporting their view, wins!!