Inequalities between children and adults: The march of progress view This means that the position of children has
improved dramatically in a relatively short
March of progress writers Aries and Shorter hold a march of period of time.
argue that adults use their progress view. They argue that children The march of progress argues that, over
- HOWEVER…
power for the benefit and are more valued, better protected, the past few centuries, the position of
Critics such as Firestone and Holt argue many of
protection of children, for cared for, and educated. Enjoy better children in western societies have been
the things that march of progress writers see as
example passing laws against health and have better rights than ever steadily improving and today is better
care and protection of children are just new forms
child labour and laws. before. than ever.
of oppression and control.
For example, children today are more
For example, Firestone argues ‘protection’ from protected from harm and exploitation by
paid work isn’t a benefit to children but a form of specific laws against child abuse and Toxic childhood
inequality as children are segregated as they can’t child labour. Better healthcare and
financially take care of themselves. higher standards of living also mean that
Inequalities babies have a better chance of survival - HOWEVER…
among children: now than a century ago. Sue Palmer suggest some UK
children are experiencing ‘toxic
- Poor mothers are more likely to childhood’.
have low-birth weight babies
She argues that over the last
linked to delayed internal and
Family - Has 25 years, technological and These changes range from junk
physical development.
childhood cultural changes have food, computer games, and
improved over damaged the physical, intensive marketing to children,
- Children born into poor families
time? (1) emotional and intellectual to the long hours worked by
are more likely to die in infancy or
development of children. parents and the growing
childhood.
emphasis on testing in
(Therefore we can’t discuss children in general as they all education.
have different experiences growing up).
- HOWEVER… The child-centred family
Conflict sociologists
(Marxists and feminists) According to one estimate, by the time a child
dispute this. reaches their 21st birthday, they will have cost their
parents over £227,000 on average.
They criticise the march of progress view on two grounds:
March of progress sociologists argue that the family has become child-centred.
- There are inequalities among children in terms of the
Parents invest a great deal in their children emotionally as well as financially, and
opportunities and risks they face: many today remain
often have high aspirations for their children to have a better life and greater
unprotected and badly cared for. Children also experience
opportunities than they ever had.
greater control, oppression and dependency, not greater care
and protection.
Society as a whole is now child-centred. An example of this is a lot of media
- Society is based on conflict between different social groups such
output and many leisure activities, designed specifically for children.
as social classes and genders. In this conflict, certain groups
have more power, status, or wealth than others.
improved dramatically in a relatively short
March of progress writers Aries and Shorter hold a march of period of time.
argue that adults use their progress view. They argue that children The march of progress argues that, over
- HOWEVER…
power for the benefit and are more valued, better protected, the past few centuries, the position of
Critics such as Firestone and Holt argue many of
protection of children, for cared for, and educated. Enjoy better children in western societies have been
the things that march of progress writers see as
example passing laws against health and have better rights than ever steadily improving and today is better
care and protection of children are just new forms
child labour and laws. before. than ever.
of oppression and control.
For example, children today are more
For example, Firestone argues ‘protection’ from protected from harm and exploitation by
paid work isn’t a benefit to children but a form of specific laws against child abuse and Toxic childhood
inequality as children are segregated as they can’t child labour. Better healthcare and
financially take care of themselves. higher standards of living also mean that
Inequalities babies have a better chance of survival - HOWEVER…
among children: now than a century ago. Sue Palmer suggest some UK
children are experiencing ‘toxic
- Poor mothers are more likely to childhood’.
have low-birth weight babies
She argues that over the last
linked to delayed internal and
Family - Has 25 years, technological and These changes range from junk
physical development.
childhood cultural changes have food, computer games, and
improved over damaged the physical, intensive marketing to children,
- Children born into poor families
time? (1) emotional and intellectual to the long hours worked by
are more likely to die in infancy or
development of children. parents and the growing
childhood.
emphasis on testing in
(Therefore we can’t discuss children in general as they all education.
have different experiences growing up).
- HOWEVER… The child-centred family
Conflict sociologists
(Marxists and feminists) According to one estimate, by the time a child
dispute this. reaches their 21st birthday, they will have cost their
parents over £227,000 on average.
They criticise the march of progress view on two grounds:
March of progress sociologists argue that the family has become child-centred.
- There are inequalities among children in terms of the
Parents invest a great deal in their children emotionally as well as financially, and
opportunities and risks they face: many today remain
often have high aspirations for their children to have a better life and greater
unprotected and badly cared for. Children also experience
opportunities than they ever had.
greater control, oppression and dependency, not greater care
and protection.
Society as a whole is now child-centred. An example of this is a lot of media
- Society is based on conflict between different social groups such
output and many leisure activities, designed specifically for children.
as social classes and genders. In this conflict, certain groups
have more power, status, or wealth than others.
