Nature of childhood:
Childhood pre industrial society
Childhood and industrialisation
Childhood as a social construct
Modern western notion of childhood
Cross cultural differences
Historical differences
Reasons for change
Childhood 20th century
Children and the state laws etc.
Theoretical approaches to childhood
Conventional
Alternative
HAS THE POSTION CHANGE?
March of progress view
Conflict view
Inequalities/control etc.
FUTURE OF CHILDHOOD:
Disappearance
Separate childhood culture
Globalisation of western childhood
Contradictory trends reconstruction of childhood
Explain what sociologists mean by a child centred society
Suggest 2 differences between childhood pre-industrial societies and contemporary industrial societies.
Identify 3 ways in which the state protects the rights of children today.
ESSAY Assess the view that childhood is not a fixed universal experience.
Suggest 2 examples of ways in which the distinction between childhood and adulthood is becoming blurred
Identify 3 changes linked to industrialisation that have led to changes in the position of children.
ESSAY Assess sociological explanations of changes in the status of childhood.
Things also to consider:
Position of children varies ARIES; modern notion=innocent, needs protecting; what led to the emergence of childhood=industrialisation, legislation, literacy, etc.
Analysis and evaluation using conflicting views of the status of childhood today, march of progress (De Mause, shorter) V child liberationists approaches
(firestone, Holt)
Assess the different views is childhood changing again, OR disappearing (Postman, Opie, the globalisation of western childhood)
Conclusion:-