CONTEMPORARY CHILDHOOD

Is Contemporary Childhood In Crises?

Is Contemporary Childhood In Crises?

Introduction

The superior and current western representation of childhood conceptualizes an idealized world of innocence and joy; a time span of fantastic flexibility, fantasy and seamless opportunity. Children are considered to live at the space supplied by a 'walled garden' which protects them from 'the harshness of the world outside'. The adult-child relative is said to supply protection: serving the 'best interests of the child' and gathering 'children's needs'. The mature individual is guardian and is ascribed with responsibility for the child's welfare.(Anderson,2002,45)

Such well liked understanding and heritage representation is underpinned by a specific pattern of what Anderson(2002:45) refers to as 'emotional, value-laden and moralistic rhetoric' which accommodates an 'unquestioning, complacent acceptance of anything social, informative and political arrangements have arisen to contend with them [children]'. This childhood 'reality' is questionable, requiring critical evaluation. Accordingly, concepts such as the 'good of the child', the 'best interests of the child' and 'children's needs' have been disputed , as have idealistic representations of childhood as an unproblematic time span of innocence, flexibility, restricted responsibility and negligible obligations. Moreover, the very environment and submission of power which characterizes the child-adult relative and the uncritical acceptance of the shielding imperative will not be sustained.

The Demonization of Children and Young People

In February 1993 the abduction, suffering and killing of a 2-year-old young man on Merseyside became the symbol of a society in social and lesson decline. As the distorted security video images of James Bulger, directed through a busy shopping shopping centre by two juvenile boys, were broadcast round the world, newspapers and political commentaries declared that outstanding levels of aggression inside British society had been reached. Many explanations and numerous 'experts' fuelled the nationwide argument, but two closely associated assumptions prevailed: the down turn of the family and parental discipline; the lost innocence of a previous 'golden age' of childhood.

Since those images were first broadcast the crisis in childhood has been a persistent topic, overriding the press, broadcast news, features and documentaries. It has been the focus of parliamentary debates and authorized inquiries while also boasting in drama and television soaps. The newspapers, especially the press, have sustained the lesson fright and political annoy, often stoking the blaze with the latest flaming revelation, regardless of the truth. Children and juvenile persons stay conspicuous by their absence in all but their misdeeds or as targets for (adult) well liked judgment or learned analysis. This section critically assesses the pattern, content and implications of these developments, setting them in their up to designated day contexts. It compares the latest treatment of young children as perpetrators with that of the physical and sexual abuse of young children inside the family, the location where young children are most at risk.(Robinson,2005,5)

The Media, Social Construction and Childhood

Robinson (2005:5) argues that news 'is a merchandise, a human construction' conceived inside social, political, financial and heritage contexts. From a mass of every day events the news is distilled, selected and presented ...