YC100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Social Constructivism, Totalitarianism, Minority Group
Document Summary
Sara matthews: a window on the new sociology of childhood . Need to think of children as full members of society. New sociology began in the mid 1980s. 3 major weaknesses of the old conceptualization of childhood. Implications for conducting research on children and childhood. Difference in research between the united states and other western countries. Begins when young acquire knowledge and skills to become competent members of society. Lump of clay thesis- children need to be shaped. Measured in outcomes - children are not actors. Recognition of children"s competence as social actors. Children as active participants- relationships with their peers; therefore children are not only enculturated by adults; also by their peers. Are all children same? (across time and place?) Old sociology (yes, according to sociologists and psychologists) New sociology ( plurality of childhoods - note the s ) Children in different social locations have different childhoods note the plural. Old sociology: focuses only on the child.