Feminists Postman
They think that childhood is not disappearing. Neil Postman suggests that childhood is disappearing in modern society, due to the
However, they see this as a bad thing. rise of mass media etc.
Children have much more access to the adult world. He believes that children are
During childhood, gender roles are learned. therefore growing up much quicker than previously.
An example of this is girls should be housewives, girls
are weak. - Children now wear the same clothes, speak the same
language and possess the same sexuality as adults.
This encourages the continuation of the
exploitation of women. - Disappearance of children’s games, replaced by those
supervised by adults.
Libertarians
- An increase in crimes by and
against children.
Functionalists They also believe that childhood
is disappearing, however they
see this as a positive thing.
Functionalists also claim that childhood is not
disappearing.
Due to the introduction of many child protection laws
They have their own contained culture and adults still
such as the 1988 Children’s Rights Act, children have
spend lots of time and energy protecting them. Family - Is more and more rights.
childhood
Jenks disappearing?
Children have come to be
Jenks also opposes Postman's argument, and believes childhood is not recognised as individuals with rights.
disappearing but instead changing.
He views childhood as a creation of modern society.
He thinks modern society is preparation to become a productive adult Opie The New Right
in the future.
Opie argues that childhood The New Right also agree that childhood
In order to achieve this, the vulnerable and undeveloped is not disappearing, unlike
child needed to be nurtured, protected and controlled, may be disappearing, but they believe
Postman. Instead there is
especially by the ‘child-centred’ family and by the education that it is a negative thing.
strong evidence of the
system imposing discipline and conformity on children. continued existence of
separate children culture Children should be protected and hidden from
For this reason, Jenks does not agree with over many years. the world.
Postman that we are seeing the This is not the case today as we are exposing
disappearance of childhood; it continues to be Opie believes that Postman over-emphasises our children more and more to abuse, violence
a separate status. media at the expense of other factors that have in the media, homosexuality etc.
influenced the development of childhood.
They think that childhood is not disappearing. Neil Postman suggests that childhood is disappearing in modern society, due to the
However, they see this as a bad thing. rise of mass media etc.
Children have much more access to the adult world. He believes that children are
During childhood, gender roles are learned. therefore growing up much quicker than previously.
An example of this is girls should be housewives, girls
are weak. - Children now wear the same clothes, speak the same
language and possess the same sexuality as adults.
This encourages the continuation of the
exploitation of women. - Disappearance of children’s games, replaced by those
supervised by adults.
Libertarians
- An increase in crimes by and
against children.
Functionalists They also believe that childhood
is disappearing, however they
see this as a positive thing.
Functionalists also claim that childhood is not
disappearing.
Due to the introduction of many child protection laws
They have their own contained culture and adults still
such as the 1988 Children’s Rights Act, children have
spend lots of time and energy protecting them. Family - Is more and more rights.
childhood
Jenks disappearing?
Children have come to be
Jenks also opposes Postman's argument, and believes childhood is not recognised as individuals with rights.
disappearing but instead changing.
He views childhood as a creation of modern society.
He thinks modern society is preparation to become a productive adult Opie The New Right
in the future.
Opie argues that childhood The New Right also agree that childhood
In order to achieve this, the vulnerable and undeveloped is not disappearing, unlike
child needed to be nurtured, protected and controlled, may be disappearing, but they believe
Postman. Instead there is
especially by the ‘child-centred’ family and by the education that it is a negative thing.
strong evidence of the
system imposing discipline and conformity on children. continued existence of
separate children culture Children should be protected and hidden from
For this reason, Jenks does not agree with over many years. the world.
Postman that we are seeing the This is not the case today as we are exposing
disappearance of childhood; it continues to be Opie believes that Postman over-emphasises our children more and more to abuse, violence
a separate status. media at the expense of other factors that have in the media, homosexuality etc.
influenced the development of childhood.
