Childhood | Social Construction of Childhood
What does the social construction of childhood mean?
Childhood is not part of a biological range from birth to 18
The concept of childhood changes based on different social locations
Cultural backgrounds
Time
Social class
Gender
Ethnicity
Cultural differences in childhood:
International Labour Organisation has estimated that there were 168 million child workers globally in 2013, other estimates have suggested more than 200 million
Wyness (2012) has estimated around 300,000 child soldiers active in conflicts in Central and Eastern Africa
UNICEF (2014) states that one in 10 girls experiences sexual violence and 95,000 children are murdered each year
Differences in expectations of children’s behaviour globally- with little differentiation between adults and children in Samoa according to Benedict (1955)
Historical differences in childhood:
Aries (1973) examined the development of modern childhood by examining the role of children throughout history
Little differentiation between children and adults until the industrial era- a rise of compulsory schooling and control over labour laws
Decrease in infant mortality as society evolved- children were often not expected to live to adulthood before this time
Shift to a more child-centred society in the late 20th century as the number of children in families decreased and they became economic burdens
What does the social construction of childhood mean?
Childhood is not part of a biological range from birth to 18
The concept of childhood changes based on different social locations
Cultural backgrounds
Time
Social class
Gender
Ethnicity
Cultural differences in childhood:
International Labour Organisation has estimated that there were 168 million child workers globally in 2013, other estimates have suggested more than 200 million
Wyness (2012) has estimated around 300,000 child soldiers active in conflicts in Central and Eastern Africa
UNICEF (2014) states that one in 10 girls experiences sexual violence and 95,000 children are murdered each year
Differences in expectations of children’s behaviour globally- with little differentiation between adults and children in Samoa according to Benedict (1955)
Historical differences in childhood:
Aries (1973) examined the development of modern childhood by examining the role of children throughout history
Little differentiation between children and adults until the industrial era- a rise of compulsory schooling and control over labour laws
Decrease in infant mortality as society evolved- children were often not expected to live to adulthood before this time
Shift to a more child-centred society in the late 20th century as the number of children in families decreased and they became economic burdens
