To answer this question, one needs to define socially constructed then critically evaluate the different theories and studies investigating childhood on whether childhood is a social construct and hopefully come to some conclusion.

Socially constructed is the idea that childhood is defined and driven by the norms and values of the society in which it is taking place. Sociologists would claim that childhood is socially constructed as it differs from society to society and if it was biologically driven it would be the same for every child across all parts of the world and children in every class.

Raymond Firth investigated childhood on the Islands of Tikopia where children were taught to use sharp objects such as knives at a very young age and began learning skills that would be classed as adult activities in British society. Children in Zaire are also trained to be soldiers as soon as they are able to walk. In British society today, if children were taught such skills it would be child neglect or abuse due to the protection acts placed over them. Such as having a law that people cannot join the army until the age of 16 and fight in wars/battle at ages 18. This shows that childhood is relative to what society you are in.

Philippe Ariès claimed that childhood is relative to time after studying 3 different points in time in British and European societies. Ariès claimed that in Medieval Europe there was no division between children and adults after studying and analysing painting and diaries from that time. He claimed that as well as working alongside adults on the farms as soon as they were no longer dependent on their mother, being economic assets to their families, they also dressed like adults calling them “little adults” as they took part in adult activities such as working. Ariès also studied Industrial British society in which children worked alongside their parents in factories and mines helping to provide for their families bringing in a wage, showing that there was little division between parent and adults. However, Ariès claimed that the modern 20th century was the century of the child. Education had become prolonged and a clear division between adults and children was made. Child psychologists and paediatricians were more prominent in society and children were now symbols of love and rather than economic assets they had become economic burdens.

On the other hand, people would argue that Ariès’ theories about childhood are not valid as his method of gaining evidence from paintings and diaries are open to misinterpretation and bias. Evidence also shows that there was a division between children and adults in Medieval Britain as there was a law that meant children couldn’t get married before the age of 10 which suggests people did see a difference between adults and children. Factory and Mining acts were also brought in during the industrial revolution prohibiting children from working in mines and factories. Compulsory education was also brought in for children ages 5-10.

However, Wendy Stainton-Rodgers supports Ariès. In that she claims children have two sides. On one hand they are innocent and vulnerable and are in need of protection but on the other hand they are wicked and sinful and are in need of control. Laws and rules support her argument in that acts now exists to protect children in society. Corporal punishment was removed from all schools across Britain to protect children, in the same way Childline was introduced. The watershed also came as part of protecting children from the adult world, not allowing them to view explicit scenes which would be for more mature/adult viewing. However, in the same way there are also rules and laws controlling children such as detentions in schools to punish them and show them right from wrong. ASBO’s have also been brought in labelling children along with separate courts and a judiciary system for delinquents.

Nick Lee would support both Rodgers and Ariès in that he believes the construction of childhood changed significantly in the 21st century. He claimed it became hard to distinguish between adults and children as in the past adults had ‘become’ having lifelong jobs and stability in their lives, whereas children were still becoming and their world was still changing rapidly however, in the 21st century adults lives are becoming more and more unstable with no guarantee of lifelong work. in the same way, children are not dressing and acting like adults, smoking, drinking alcohol and having sex at a younger age and taking part in what would seem in the past, adult activities. In this way he claims that childhood is now ambiguous, it is no longer clear when childhood ends and where adulthood starts.

Neil Postman however would challenge all Rodgers, Ariès and Lee. He would claim that childhood no longer exists. Postman would claim this is partly caused by the commercialisation and sexualisation of children such as selling padded bras and bikinis for young girls, causing them to become adults mentally before they are ready. However, he also claims it is due to children being let in on ‘adult secrets’ knowing about sex and the ins and outs of their parents divorces, which in the past would have been kept secret from children to maintain their innocence. This is also shown in Sue Palmers study, Toxic Childhood in 2006 showing more and more children are suffering from mental illnesses such as depression and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder which may be due to their childhood being ended too early by being let into adult secrets such as parents’ divorces.

However, some sociologists would disagree with both Postman and Palmer being that shops selling toys for children still exist, such as ‘Toys R Us’ which is maintaining children’s childhood. Sociologists would also argue that mental illnesses in children have always existed but nowadays we are more aware due to the proficiency of child psychologists and paediatricians.

In conclusion, childhood can be said to be socially constructed as childhood differs from society to society. It also differs between social classes and ethnicities. No child has the same childhood.