Childhood Sociology

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Children are presented in a variety of different ways within society which has been a constant motif within in public debate. This continuation is due to a range of contributing factors that all inherent similar themes, of how a child audience is depicted and defined within the media. Societal reflectivity has historically illustrated children as being unable to psychologically translate information, thus restricting them from certain technological information that has been reserved for an ‘adult audience’. Through this restriction children were presented within a framework that limited them from being able actively partake in media consumption. However, due to the interchangeable nature of society, children within a modern context are presented …show more content…

Historically children have been viewed as being non-participants within society, which has been reflected through media consumption and exposure. Childhood has been a central idea presented habitually within debate due to its reflective and dynamic definition. This multifaceted theme has aliened childhood to having a close association with societal change that is reinforced by technological advancement. Historian Martin Hoyles theorises a similar explanation stating that childhood in a societal framework is a social convention and not just a natural state. This subject is represented within any historical/modern viewpoint in relation to the definition of childhood. Hoyles underlines his theory by stating that childhood is “constantly evolving in accordance to a range of cultural conditions,” (Brooks 2008:16). This perspective draws attention to an argument that places children, as a mirror to society. Neil postman inherits a similar stance in ‘The Disappearance of Childhood,’ as he describes the construction of childhood is a …show more content…

In relation to the use and regulation of media content children have experienced a series of societal shifts that have impacted on the constriction of childhood itself. Within a historic context children have been painted as not being able to psychologically translate the sophisticated construction of old media and therefore were labelled as being non-participants within the consumption of content. The dynamic definition of childhood, changed this view as Walt Disney, saw a gap in the market that divided children. The creation of this tailored market, reflected a modernised view of children and echoed underlying themes of innocence. Children due to this societal change, moved from being non-participants to active participants within the consumption and exposure to media related content. Programming was created to help protect the image of children in this technological advancement impacting on this new-found exposure. Due to these factors the social construction of childhood is a multifaceted term that reflects societal

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