Childhood

•childhood didnt exist in medival europe •as soon as they are weaned, become little adults •worked with and behaved like adults

"little adults", expected to work as soon as capable

between 1600 and 20th century

as soon as no longer physically dependant on parents (7) they were treated like adults different concept of age people seen in terms of physical appearance not age

paintings of children above the age of 7 were shown in small adult clothing and serious adult like facial expression

end of 19th century, compulsory state education development of childhood specialists

biggest change during 17th century

privacy became the norm, people paid more attention to children

become child centered

a middle-class model became popular based on the idea of self-contained families led by a strong father organised around the proper upbringing of children

overstating his argument, e.g. laws prohibiting marriage for under 12 Wilson - childhood did exist, it was just different, applied our modern view of childhood to a different era pollock - uses limited and selective sources of evidence

uses wider range of evidence to show emergence of childhood

romantic love developed and children were a product of that rousseau - children were born good and would become successful adults if socialised properly new ideas circulated on how to raise children

childhood developed through technological changes

growth of technology, nothing was hidden from children social blurring

parents are more obsessed with child safety adults take more control over children parents set stricter boundaries

Sue palmer technological and cultural changes are harming children parents spend less time with kids, use tech to occupy them no longer child centered deprived of traditional family life

westen societies, position of children is improving

parents invest a great deal into their children both emotionally and financially

marxists + feminists march of progress ignore inequalities between children and between children and adults

A social construct it isnt biological, its shaped by society behaviour considered appropriate, how children should be treated, length of childhood

something created by society, constructed from social meaning and definition

wyness (2006)

physical and mental immaturity childhood should be the same everywhere prout and james - dominant framework

learned through socialisation child soldiers, cultural variations within childhood Aries - what children experience today is a social intervention

different status, responsibilities between cultures e.g. child soldiers

special time physically and physicologically immature protected and nurtured

childhood didnt exist mini adults

schools specialised in educating the young

•families have become more child centered - family outings and activites are more focused on children, more time spent with children

•improved welfare state support - introduction of child specialists e.g. paediatric doctors

•children have compulsory education - results in better educational and job opportunities, no longer working in factories