Childhood: Past Present Fututre

When we speak about childhood we think of it as being a special time in a young children's life where they are the centre of attention and are often looked as needing nurturing etc. but historically the concept of childhood is not the same. This is why sociologists would describe childhood as a social construct meaning that the whole idea of childhood is something idealised by society overtime. Childhood is also different in different societies which gives sociologist even the more reason as to how childhood is a social construction rather than a universal biological stage.

Childhood in the past

In Pre Industrial society children were seen in a very much of a different life than what they are now. In the Medieval times children were seen as 'mini-adults' and instead of being innocent and young they were very much an asset to the family as during this time period children were allowed to work. Aries (1962) was a sociologist in support of this idea (he used the aid of painting to help him study childhood in the past, which he could then be criticised for as his research was non representative of the medieval times as it is not based around real people articles diaries etc.) Aries states that childhood altogether is a recent invention that has occurred within the last century or so. He argued that the distinction between adults and children was very small and even then they were seen more as mini-adults and rather than a child an economic asset by being expected to provide for the family unit. Shorter(1975) suggested that children were more liable to experience neglect due to the fact that infant immortality was so high, parents often had more children in order to replace those that have died so this situation would often result in a poor state of childhood and potentially poverty. However Pollock suggested that it was because people had a different view of childhood in the middle ages thus childhood was experienced in a different way rather than not at all.

In the 13th century some elements of a better childhood started to emerge. Schools began to follow churches ideas at looking at children as being more vulnerable and in need of protection rather than adults, clothing that was separate to that of adults was generally starting to open a sector in the industry for children with books and standards of living improving. This has meant that this whole new perspective from the medieval ages onwards has created social changes especially in the 19th and 20th industry in 1880 Education Act has meant that all children must attend compulsory student. with the society constantly changing our society would need a fast learning and educated workforce to enable us to have an understanding of the society we live in . With more knowledge the health and sanitation of our society became better which has meant that the infant immortality rates significantly dropped which lead parents to provide children with more protection, thus creating an idea of a childhood very much like the one we have now. Laws and children's acts were also introduced meaning that children were very much more valued by society than in the past .. particularly in the eyes of the world and their development process. Some some examples of new laws introduced are: 1990 Child Care Act 

1991 Child Support Act

Both of these deal with the care and upbringing and protection of children, with social services and social workers are able to remove children from dangerous and hostile home situations and environments.

Childhood in the present

The Modern Western Notion of childhood is the idea of childhood that has been created by the western society. This is an idea that basically childhood is a special time in a child's life where their innocence, physical and mental states fundamentally vary from that of adults. Childhood is often the time where a definite and lengthy process occurs. Pilcher(1995) suggested that childhood is a DISTINCT life stage in a child life based upon the idea of separateness of being totally different from adults. Similarly Cunningham (2007) stated that children are totally opposite to adults and have the right to have a time of happiness during this stage in child's life.

The march of progress view (present)

Aries et. al. have recognised that there has been a steady improvement that has lead the society we live in to be come more child- entered. The whole society run upon the children's needs; where by we supply children with educational, psychological and medical needs which has meant that the infant mortality rate has been reduced significantly as due to the better position of women in society which as enabled them to work has caused a declined birthrate which has meant that women are having less children and therefore children are ultimately more protected against the harm and exploitations of society.

The conflict view (present)

Marxist and feminists would suggest that not all children have this 'child-centred childhood'. In fact the experience childhood in different ways. Marxists would argue that class plays a big difference in how childhood is experienced due to class, the capitalists society target children as they can make parents spend money on toys...eg, the frozen frenzy. Children from different ethnic backgrounds may have had a different socialisation from the rest of society which could mean their expected to do more than the average child for example gypsy tradition states that girls have to marry young. Feminists would suggest that boys and girls have a different experience due to gender socialisation, for example boys are taught to be more dirty and aggressive where as girls are taught to be more quite and sensitive which shows why childhood is different gender wise.

Firestone (1979) - child liberationists would suggest that adults have become over child-centred causing, extensive care and new form of oppression and control over children. Adults can control the physical appearance of children from their clothing to hair cuts, they can also have control over their space and time; adults can often limit children access to the internet, extra curricular activities after school, etc.

Gittins(1998)- argued that age patriarchy is a big factor in experience of childhood with reasons such as control over bodies space and time can actually oppress children rather than help them which can result in abuse overseen by the social services such as the Baby P case . 

Hockey and James (1993) suggested that childhood is something children wanting to escape, they create resistance to childhood and act older for  example: smoking and under age sex is often a way of children rebelling of this supposed 'happy life stage'.

Childhood in the future

Postman(1994) suggest that childhood is actually disappearing now. There is less of a distinction between adults and children in terms of fashion, leisure activities and crime - there are cases of children committing the same crimes as grown adults which is a clear reason for why childhood is disappearing. Postman said that this is due to the television culture, the internet and digital tv. boxes such as sky have a number of adult channels and it is also accessible on the internet. Music videos contain alot of pornography and national tv can show adult content on tv from 9 o'clock, ( most teenagers stay up later than that).

Palmer(2006) childhoods now becoming toxic. The rapid technological changes in society has damaged children's development. Parents are working longer which means that children are subjected to junk food (causing child obesity), computer games (taking over teenage lives with them now going out and socialising less) means that children often lead neglected and deprived childhood. 

Lee(2001) suggests that childhood is not disappearing but is more complex. children can be see as a massive inferior in society in the eyes of the marketing , they cant buy the same things as adults can which makes them limited consumers as they have to ask their parents to for example buy the latest game etc.