Different sociological views on changes Essay

Examine different sociological visible horizons on changes in the experience of childhood in the last 50 years or so.(24 marks) childhood is a special time of life where children atomic number 18 fundamentally different from adults, it is time that is based solely on society. Children are seen as physically and emotionally incompetent and therefore need influence and guidance of adults to be prepared with life skills needed to be independent children are seen as most important. tally to Aries (1962), childhood puke be defined as being a social construct something that is executed and defined by society. Children had been seen as being wish mini adults and being an economic liability rather than being treated like children and being unconditionally loved by their parents. The elements of the modern childhood in symbolizes began to emerge from the 13th blow onwards. Schools started to specialise purely on the education of the young. There was a growing distinction between adult and children clothing.By the eighteenth century there was a sign of the growing child-centred of family life, mostly among the middle classes. According to Aries these developments lead to the cult of childhood. He argues that we have go from a world that did not see childhood as in any way special, to a world that is obsessed with childhood. He describes the 20th century as the century of the child. Some sociologists have criticised Aries for arguing that childhood did not exist in the past. Linda Pollock (1983) argues that it is more correct to vocalize that in the middle ages society simply had a different view of childhood.Aries definition of childhood as a social construction can also be supported by cross-cultural differences and more specifically Punch (2001).Punch had studied children in Bolivia and found that at age 5 children were anticipate to work and take responsibilities. This cultural variation shows childhood to be a social construction as if it were biological e veryone would have the same experiences.However, changes have been make and it is now made clear by Pilcher, that childhood is now becoming separate from adulthood. Childhood is seen as aclear and distinct life stage and children in our society occupy a separate status from adults. Children also differ from adults through the differences in dress. Pilcher argues that children have only(prenominal) started to be seen as compromising and innocent recently when laws started defining what they can and cannot do. Also now that we are in a golden age of innocence and vulnerability adults have thus decided children need more protection from the adult world.Functionalist sociologists agree with the March of near view, as they believe that the experience of childhood has massively improved everyplace the last 50 years. They take the view that childhood is socially constructed and vary between times, places and even cultures. There are important differences between childhoods in Hesperi an societies right away as compared with European societies in the past. For example, in the middle ages, child labour was a basic fact of life for most children schooling was only available for the wealthy.The March of Progress view argues that, over the past few centuries, the position of children in western societies have been improving. Aries also holds the March of Progress view. They argue that todays children are more valued, better cared for, protected, educated and have more rights. For example, children today are protected from harm and exploitation by laws against child curse and child labour.Conflict sociologists such as Marxists and Feminists argue against the March of Progress view that the position of children has improved dramatically in a relatively brusque period of time. They argue that society is based on a conflict between different social groups such as social classes or genders. In this conflict, some groups have more power, status and wealth than others. T hey also argue that the March of Progress view of modern childhood is based on a false and idealised image that ignores important inequalities.Firstly the conflict sociologists say that there are inequalities among children in terms of opportunities and risks they face many today dwellunprotected and badly cared for. For example, poor mothers are more likely to have low birth-weight babies, which could lead to intellectual developments.Secondly, the inequalities between children and adults are greater than ever children today experience greater control, greater care and protection. For example, neglect and abuse.In relation to this all, Neil Postman (1994) argues that childhood is disappearing at a dazzling speed. He points to the tends towards giving children the same rights as adults, the growing similarity of adult and children clothing, are taking part in adult activities like smoking and drinking and are committing adult crimes such as murder. These ideas clearly demonstrate t hat societies need for children to act older than they are is causing trouble psychologically for children.On the other hand, contradictory Postman Iona Opie (1993) argues that childhood is not disappearing. She argues that there is strong evidence of the continued existence of a separate childrens culture. Her studies show that children can and they do create their own independent culture separate from adults. This contradicts Postmans claim that childrens own unsupervised games are dying out.In conclusion, the evidence suggests that March of Progress view that the status of childhood has improved is much stronger. Although the conflict views are true to some extent, in terms of inequality, there is a clear improvement in the status of children in the society in comparison to previous generations.