Evaluate the view that contemporary families have become more child centred
Firstly , child centred society is where children have become more valued and therefore focused on and protected. In this essay I will be evaluating the view that modern families have become more child centred. I will do this by including childhood in the past compared to childhood now , and how childhood has improved through rights and economic improvements and so on.
Firstly , childhood is a phase of life between infancy and adulthood and can be said as a modern development as it didn’t develop in western society until the 16th and 17th centuries. For example , a historian Phillip Aries explained that in medieval times childhood did not exist as a separate status. That they were seen as “Little adults” even though they required constant care they were expected to take on adult roles and responsibilities as soon as they were physically able to do so. Such as child labour. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century until that there were restrictions (laws) made to protect children from exploitation and hardship. Which therefore greatly separated children from the adult work life and responsibilities. Children began to be seen as innocent and needed to be protected , as they are also vulnerable. This emphasizes that as attitudes changed towards children there was a social change over time , which has led to child centeredness today.
Secondly , strong discipline was used to teach children appropriate behaviour and from this children often experienced severe beatings , even in schools this was acceptable just for discipline. Today we see this as child abuse in western society , although in different cultures and countries this can be seen differently. This could mean that in some familes depending on their social background that child centredness has increased but not in all aspects. Leading on