Factors that affect childhood

Nationality impact on life chances

• Children of different nationalities have different life chances, as well as experiences of childhood

% of global low-weight babies born in developing countries

90%

Gender - Hillman (1993)

• Boys are more likely to be allowed to…, giving them more independence

  • Cross roads alone

  • Cycle on roads

  • Use buses

  • Go out after dark unaccompanied

Gender - Banke (1999)

• Girls do more domestic labour, especially in single parent families

Gender - Banke (1999) - girls v boys, housework

• Girls can do up to 5 times more housework than boys

Ethnicity - Brannen (1994)

• 15-16 year old children

  • Asian parents are more likely to be strict towards their daughters

Ethnicity - Bhatti (1999)

• Idea of izzat (family honour) restricts the behaviour of children, especially girls

Social class

• Poor mothers are more likely to have low birth weight babies

  • This is then linked to delayed physical and intellectual development later in life

Social class - children of unskilled manual workers

• More than 3 times more likely to suffer from hyperactivity

• 4 times more likely to suffer from conduct disorders than children of professionals

Social class - children born into poor families

• More likely to

  • Die in infancy or childhood

  • Suffer chronic illness

  • Be shorter

  • Fall behind at school

  • Be placed on the child protection register