Cross cultural differences for
the social construct 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.
Pilcher
separateness
children and
adults are
separate: this
can be seen
through the law
i.e. film ages (18, 12), dress
codes, age of consent... etc
Aries
Studied paintings of children from the Middle Ages
Argued childhood did not exist back then: the
paintings showed children performing the same tasks
as the adults, wearing similar clothes ('mini adults')
Postman
'disappearance of childhood'
This is due to children being given the
same rights as adults
children are committing more serious crimes
this is due to television: in modern society,
television blurs the line between adults and
children.
Palmer
'toxic childhood'
due to rapid technological changes in the past
25 years it has damaged childrens' emotional,
physcial and intellectual development
i.e. through junk food, computer
games and intensive marketing
towards children.
Margo and Dixons
Reports for the UK show it is around the
top for obesity, self-harm, drug and
alcohol abuse for the youth.
Firth
Did studies on cross-cultural
differences for children
in Tikopia, he found doing as an adult tells
you is a choice left up to the child