The status of children, their role within their families, what the generations think of each other, and how far young people's views and wishes are valued and tolerated, are among the questions examined in this chapter. First, however, the meaning of parenthood for adults, and young people's views on parents, are explored briefly.

The meaning of parenthood

The status of childhood depends on the meaning of parenthood for adults. Why do people have children, and what expectations do they have of them?

Views of children have changed considerably over the years. These reflect both social climate and adult lifestyles. By way of illustration, Hardyment (1983) tells how between about 1820 and 1870, children were regarded with great affection and tolerance, and as a hope for the future. Towards the end of this period, however, important changes took place. Women were developing their social roles and had less time to devote to raising large families. Birth control became more widespread, and family size declined dramatically. Nurses and nannies took over in families who could afford them, and fewer childcare manuals were written for parents. By the 20th century, or the ‘century of the child’ as Hardyment calls it, things changed again. More texts than ever appeared on bringing up babies:

Throughout the centuries, for a variety of reasons, children have been seen as an asset. They have been valued for their ability to earn extra money for the family – even if this is a far cry from the more common view these days about how costly children and young people are (Middleton et al, 1997). Historically, they have been regarded as property, with parents even having the right to sell their own children for slavery, or worse. Freeman (2001) comments on how the 1989 Children Act finally eliminated the old idea of the ‘ownership’ of children: