She then brings up the issue of unnerving newspaper headlines such as “Bloodlust Video Games Put Kids in the Crosshairs” (205). Sternheimer feels not enough emphasis has been given to other issues such as “social rejection and depression” (206). She also brings our attention to information on statistical evidence. Sternheimer believed it to be “controversial” and feels it “exclude[s] a host of other factors” (207). Sternheimer feels it is these other over looked factors that are truly the cause of “young killers” (210).
According to Aries (1962), childhood can be defined as a social construction. Children were once regarded as ‘little adults’ and an economic asset rather than a symbol of love due to the high death rates making it hard to emotionally invest. However, now, according to Pilcher, a key aspect of childhood is ‘separateness’ from adulthood. Aries definition of childhood as a social construction can be supported by cross-cultural differences and more specifically Punch (2001). Punch studied children in Bolivia and found that at age 5 children were expected to work and take on responsibilities.
Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere assess the view that, in today’s society, the family is losing its functions. (24marks). Item 2B For functionalist sociologists, the family fulfils a number of important functions for individuals and for society, such as the socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities. However, some sociologists suggest that, in today’s society, these functions are being taken over by other institutions and the family is losing its importance. For example, nurseries and playgroups have an increasingly important role in the socialisation of young children whose parents are working full-time.
Douglas argued that w/c parent’ attitudes prevent children form being successful in education. Middle class children parents are more interested in their children’s education, and were more encouraging and more willing to help them. Sugarman supported Douglas’ theory that the w/c and m/c had different attitudes, which can affect their education. There were four key features of his theory; Fatalism (The w/c believe that everything happens for a reason, even failing an exam. With this frame of mind, they lack the motivation to do better and succeed.
Society has become such a cesspool for violence, it’s a no brainer that there is enforcement all over the place making sure that young adults obey the law. It is unfortunate that it had to get this far, but who is to blame for the violence in schools? In the past two decades, our collective attitude toward children and youth has undergone a profound change that’s reflected in the educational and criminal justice systems as well as in our daily discourse. (Fuentes, 610) The crackdown on youth has had no control over the subsequent events. Assured, you can lock a child up for violence and take him off the streets, but then that just causes a domino effect.
This was introduced by the Labour party, who Lewis argues have taken on the idea of ‘social investment in children’ seriously and have realised family forms are changing. The Labour party have introduced a number of laws, attempting to strengthen the family unit. They were mainly concerned on helping the social and economic position of women, for example, marital rape was made illegal in 1991 by the Labour party. The rights of children have also been improved by the labour party due to the children’s act of 1989. New right thinkers however; believe that these laws undermine the traditional male dominance in families, but many believe these new policies for women and children strengthen the family rather than weaken it.
For example as the population increases the amount of resources used decreases, so less children would mean the less use of electricity or heating, helping society by using little resources. Reproduction of the next generation, so society can continue. Socialisation of the young, so they can learn the norms and values of life. This would benefit the individual (the child) as they will understand how everything works when they are older and overcome any obstacles due to them being well prepared. This would benefit society as they have more young workers coming from the families.
There was an underlying reason for this Act which was that forcing children to attend local school was a way of propping up Anglican schools and stopping the spread of non-conformist school boards. However in comparison Gladstone’s policies where more centralised on removing any inequality or discrimination practised on religious grounds. In conclusion most of the Liberal legislation did not do much to improve social or living conditions, though led, for example, to wider access to schooling and the attempt to end intimidation in voting. Much of the Conservative legislation directly affected conditions of working class life. Ultimately weighing all the factors I must say that The Conservative Government of 1874 to 1880 did more than the Liberal Government of 1868 to 1874 to improve the conditions of the working
Up until the 1990s, theories of childhood tended to be determined in a "top-down" approach which some have described as "imperialistic." This is true of theories about the medieval child as much as the modern child. Children themselves while the focus of theory, have not generally been considered as having a legitimate voice in influencing its production. However, the UN CONVENTIONON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (1989) created a climate for reconsidering this tendency and a subsequent focus on listening to the views of the child and CHILDREN'S RIGHTS of expression in general. This has led some scholars to explore allowing children themselves to reflect upon their own experience of childhood, resulting in the use of inclusive research methodologies and more democratic frameworks for dissemination.
New right believe that the incline in family diversity and a decline in the nuclear family is a cause of many social problems. They believe that the increase in family diversity is the reason for economic problems. New right believe that the nuclear family or ‘cereal packet’ family as the most suitable family type. New right believe that the nuclear family is the most suitable family type because, firstly because it allows proper socialisation of children. Secondly they believe it is most important type of family as it stops deviance in children and also reduces crime caused by children.