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| Question | Answer |
| Pilcher | Pilcher notes the most important feature of modern childhood is separateness, as childhood is seen as a distinct life stage and children occupy a separate status than adults. Pilcher explains this is emphasized through what is restricted in the law for children: the dress codes, consumerist goods, entertainment and maturity. For Pilcher, childhood is seen as a golden age of happiness and innocence. |
| Punch | Found that there are cross cultural differences for the social construction of childhood. In Bolivia, children at 5 years old are expected to take some work responsibilities in the home and community. These tasks are also expected to be taken on without question or hesitation. |
| Firth | Also did studies on the cross cultural differences for childhood. In Tikopia, the sociologist however found that doing as you are told by an adult is a choice that is left up to the child. It’s not a right expected by an adult. |
| Aries | Aries argues that childhood did not exist in the Middle Ages and is rather a relatively recent invention. Before children were seen as 'mini adults' working much on the same terms as adults after they were weaned. As evidence, he uses paintings of children and adults working together which were supposedly painted at the time period. (Children were economic asset but now economic liability.) |
| Postman | argues about the disappearance of childhood which is happening at a dazzling speed. He explains that this is due to giving children almost the same rights as adults. For example, now there is a growing amount of similarity in children’s clothes or the case of children committing serious crimes and what people would regard as crime that should only be committed by adults. Postman also argues that in modern society, television blurs the distinction between adults and children. |
| Palmer | Describes the Toxic Childhood theory. That due to rapid technological changes in the past 25 years children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development has been damaged. For example, the junk food they eat, time wasted playing computer games and intensive marketing to children makes adults work longer hours to provide for them. |
| Margo and Dixons | Reports for the UK show it is around the top for obesity, self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse for the youth. |
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