Examples Of Social Construction Of Childhood

Hayley kyffin-14010260

In what ways can childhood and youth be understood as social constructions? Illustrate your answer with relevant examples.

The term social construction is the understandings childhoods are not the same everywhere and that while all societies acknowledge that children are different from adults, how they are different and what expectations are placed on them, change according to the society in which they live and what culture they are born in to. Every individual child goes through emotional changes that occur between birth and adolescence. A Childs development is impacted by the environment and nurture during this course. For example having both parents can add stability to the child’s life which encourages a healthy development. As opposed to being raised by one working parent who can’t provide the child with the same amount of time a two parent family can which some may argue impacts the child’s progression. Social construction of childhood and youth is how culture dictates the way people act and treat children and the way this impacts their adulthood. Ideas about children and childhood

Because of the more crucial importance of children’s labour to many household economies, children are involved in forms of labour just like their parents. Females play a central role in domestic labour and care for their siblings like they are the mother of the family. Children take on considerable responsibilities, and see this as part of their obligations to their families. Hence, in some countries, child labour is prevalent and, for many children, education has to fit around work commitments. This contrasts with the developed West, where children’s work has to fit around their education commitments. The priorities for children are different, and their childhoods are very much so a different