According to some sociologists, childhood is socially constructed, this means it is only a human concept and the only reason that childhood exists is because society makes it that way. Overtime childhood has changed as different norms and values over each century of life have been different and are still changing at present. Also, in different places of the world there are different cultures and ethics so therefore their view of childhood will also be different.
As Wagg states, “Childhood is socially constructed. It is, in other words, what members of particular societies, at particular times, and in particular places say it is. There is no single universal childhood experienced by all. So, childhood isn’t “natural” and should be distinguished from mere biological immaturity.” However, childhood has not always been controlled like this, as in pre-industrial times Aries argues that ‘the idea of childhood did not exist’. Soon after being less dependent, the child centred society was pretty much on the same terms as an adult – they were not exactly the equals of adults but they nevertheless mixed freely with adults in terms of both work and leisure; there was very little distinction between them. However, childhood has changed overtime and as I says in item A ,‘The development of children’s lives were increasingly confined, disciplined and regulated by adults.’ In historical times law often made no distinction between children and adults and as Shorter argues, high death rates encouraged indifference and neglect especially towards infants. Childhood is much different now although neglect is still present, there are laws imposed to protect children, such as the 1989 child protection act.
The March of Progress view would agree that childhood is better now than it was before due to laws like this – it argues that society has finally recognised that childhood is a