jane pilcher states that in current times there is a significant difference between
adults and children, this is due to them being physically and psychologically immature,
there is a belief that a childrens lack of skills mean that they have to go through a
lengthy process of nurturing and socialisation to prepare them. pilchers theory of
seperatednes connotes that childhood is a very distinct stage which is emphasised
through laws of what they can and cannot do. because of these age regulations adults
see children as in need of protection so they will make decisions for them in order to
protect them
punch - cross cultural
differences (bolivia)
samantha punch study of children in rural bolivia
highlighted the fact that children are expected to
take up work responsibilites as early as 5 years
old without question
raymond firth (cross
cultural differences)
found that among the tikopia
of the western pacific doing
as you are told by an adult is
a concession to be granted by
the child not a right to be
expected by the adult
Aries - historical differences
childhood as it is today it only a recent invention, philipe aries argues that in the middle ages
'the idea of childhood did not exist' they were seen almost equal to adults once they had
passed the stage of physical dependance during the infantile stage. there was nothing to
seperate children and adults, they wore the same clothes and they also faced the same
punishments if they broke the law.
Postman - disapearance
of childhood
postman argues that 'childhood is
disappearing at a dazzling speed' he thinks
that adults and children are becoming
similar in that they wear the same clothes,
introduction of technology sees the
disappearance of traditional child hood
games and even cases in which children
have commited 'adult' crimes such as
murder.
palmer - toxic childhood
toxic childhood is a term used for how the rapid
technological and cultural changes in the last 25
years have damaged childrens physical mental
and emotional development. these changes
include junk food, video games and the growing
emphasis of testing in education