Topic 1- Childhood
Sociologist What do they say? Evaluation
Pilcher Golden age of childhood- separateness,
innocence and happiness of children
constructed
Benedict Children in non-industrial society are
treated differently
● Responsible at a young age
● Less valued if not showing
obedience to adults
● Children’s sexual behaviour is
often seen differently
Aries Position of children differs overtime Polack- not suitable as
● ‘’Cult of childhood’’ after Aries used painings for
industrialisation research
● ‘’The century of the child’’
Shorter Position of children has improved- low
mortality rates
Child protection has improved
Donzelot Observed how theories of child
development began to appear from the
19th century
Postman Childhood is disappearing due to Aries and Shorter- it is
clothing,same rights as adults, TV and becoming better due to
social media better healthcare,rights and
‘’child centredness’’
Sue Palmer- toxic
childhood
Sue Palmer Toxic childhood due to parents working Aries and Shorter- think
longer hours,marketing for children and that childhood is improving
social media
Lead to early sexual experience, self
harm and drug alcohol abuse
Firestone and Holt Parents are way too controlling
They control their space, time, bodies
and access to resources
, Topic 2- Changing family patterns
Sociologists What do they say? Evaluation
Mitchell and Goody There has been a decrease
in stigma attached to divorce
More accepted from society
Fletcher High expectations of love,
increase divorce rates
Chester Numbers of cohabitation are
increasing,because
cohabitation is part of the
process of getting married
Weston Same-sex relationships are
seeen as less stable than
heterosexual ones,because
they have to negotiate their
responsibilties
Charles Murray Lone parent families are Most lone parent families are
New Right problematic,since they rely on more likely to live in poverty
benefits and are mostly Women earn less than men
female headed,boys lack a
male role model
Dependency culture- take for
granted what the state can
provide
Wilmott Extended family still exists
bus as ‘’ dispersed extended
family’’- don’t live together but
remain in contact
Sociologist What do they say? Evaluation
Pilcher Golden age of childhood- separateness,
innocence and happiness of children
constructed
Benedict Children in non-industrial society are
treated differently
● Responsible at a young age
● Less valued if not showing
obedience to adults
● Children’s sexual behaviour is
often seen differently
Aries Position of children differs overtime Polack- not suitable as
● ‘’Cult of childhood’’ after Aries used painings for
industrialisation research
● ‘’The century of the child’’
Shorter Position of children has improved- low
mortality rates
Child protection has improved
Donzelot Observed how theories of child
development began to appear from the
19th century
Postman Childhood is disappearing due to Aries and Shorter- it is
clothing,same rights as adults, TV and becoming better due to
social media better healthcare,rights and
‘’child centredness’’
Sue Palmer- toxic
childhood
Sue Palmer Toxic childhood due to parents working Aries and Shorter- think
longer hours,marketing for children and that childhood is improving
social media
Lead to early sexual experience, self
harm and drug alcohol abuse
Firestone and Holt Parents are way too controlling
They control their space, time, bodies
and access to resources
, Topic 2- Changing family patterns
Sociologists What do they say? Evaluation
Mitchell and Goody There has been a decrease
in stigma attached to divorce
More accepted from society
Fletcher High expectations of love,
increase divorce rates
Chester Numbers of cohabitation are
increasing,because
cohabitation is part of the
process of getting married
Weston Same-sex relationships are
seeen as less stable than
heterosexual ones,because
they have to negotiate their
responsibilties
Charles Murray Lone parent families are Most lone parent families are
New Right problematic,since they rely on more likely to live in poverty
benefits and are mostly Women earn less than men
female headed,boys lack a
male role model
Dependency culture- take for
granted what the state can
provide
Wilmott Extended family still exists
bus as ‘’ dispersed extended
family’’- don’t live together but
remain in contact
