Childhood

Childhood might seem like a natural, biological stage of life, but sociologists argue that it is largely a social construction — its meaning, duration, and characteristics vary across time and place. The sociology of childhood examines how society defines and treats children, whether childhood is improving or deteriorating, and how childhood experiences are shaped by social inequalities. This is a key topic for AQA A-Level Sociology (7192).

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The Social Construction of Childhood

Social construction: The idea that something is created and defined by society rather than being a natural, inevitable phenomenon. Different societies construct childhood differently — what counts as "childhood," when it begins and ends, and what children are expected to do varies enormously.

Sociologists argue that childhood is not simply a biological stage but is shaped by cultural norms, laws, and social expectations. The concept of childhood as a distinct, protected phase of life — separate from adulthood — is a relatively recent and culturally specific idea.

Evidence That Childhood Is Socially Constructed