Sociological Debates on Contemporary Childhood PDF

Week 13, Lesson 2 Sociological Debates on Contemporary Childhood Learning Objective: To evaluate contemporary childhood and decide whether children are growing up too fast or if they are part of the “clipped wing” generation. Success Criteria: 1. I know that the idea of...

Week 13, Lesson 2 Sociological Debates on Contemporary Childhood Learning Objective: To evaluate contemporary childhood and decide whether children are growing up too fast or if they are part of the “clipped wing” generation. Success Criteria: 1. I know that the idea of childhood is continuously changing. 2. I can explain a number of sociological terms related to childhood. 3. I can evaluate whether children are growing up too fast or if they are part of the “clipped wing” Q. At what age is a person considere da teenager? Q. How do the roles and responsibl ities of a teenager differ to those of a child? The Concept of Adolescence: It was psychologist G. Stanley Hall (1904) who wrote about adolescence as a unique stage of life. He described it as a period of "storm and stress," emphasizing emotional and psychological changes. The modern idea of the teenager largely originated in the US in the aftermath of WWII (post 1945). Post war prosperity and economic growth created a middle-class lifestyle with disposable income. For the first time, many American families could afford to let their children stay in school instead of working. This prolonged adolescence and created a group of young people with time and money to spend on leisure activities. The media and companies soon caught on to the idea and began marketing cosmetics, Q. Can you think of two specific music, clothing, and movies towards things that are currently being adolescents. marketed to teenagers? Contemporary Debates on the Sociology of Childhood: 1. “The Loss of Childhood” The relationship between children and parents has undeniably shifted in recent years, with parents and older children (teenagers) leading increasingly separate lives. Elizabeth Silva (1996) argues that the role of parents is diminishing, as they are being replaced by the influence of peers, teachers, the Internet, and video games. With the rise of technology, parents find it harder to regulate their children's behavior. Children now have greater access to harmful and inappropriate content, raising concerns about the "loss of childhood.” Allison Pugh (2002) suggests that parental spending on children has become a form of "consumption as compensation." Parents, often "cash-rich but time-poor," attempt to alleviate their guilt for not spending enough time with their children by buying them consumer goods. This trend encourages a  Contemporary Debates on the Sociology of Childhood: 1. “Toxic Childhood” Sue Palmer (2007) went on to suggest that children nowadays are being deprived of a 'proper' childhood. Quality family time, for example, family meals with conversation, has been replaced to, mobile phones, the internet, and social media. She sees the contemporary world creating what she calls a 'toxic childhood’. Many children now have their own rooms with their own televisions and computers with internet access. In 1998, 9% of households had access to the internet. In 2016, 89% of households had access to the internet. This means that parents are no longer able to control the range of information, images and values that children are exposed to and this reduces the opportunities for parents to socialize their children and regulate their behavior. Contemporary Debates on the Sociology of Childhood: 2. “Clipped Wing” Ulrich Beck's concept of the "risk society" (1992) can be applied to the debate about the "clipped wing" generation. He argues that in modern societies, there is an increased focus on perceived risks, especially regarding children. Parents and communities are more likely to limit children's freedom due to fears of harm or danger, which contributes to the overprotective, risk-averse attitudes that can "clip" children's independence. Furthermore, Neil Postman (1994) famously highlighted how modern parenting styles have led to children being overprotected and shielded from real-world experiences, a phenomenon often called "helicopter parenting”.