Hi Blubell, chapters 3 and 4 are not related to the next tma. The gender question is really based on 5 and the innocence on chapter 6.

I have had a quick look at option 2 for tma 2, but not quite sure what it is asking.

'Evaluate the significance of gender in understanding childhood'.


I presume we have to discuss how important the nurture [ socilization/scientific] approach and the social constructionist approach see it. I don't think the biological approach is relevant as they see the differences as 'sex' differences rather than gender.

It does suggest evaluating the signigicance of gender by looking at home, school and community.

Any ideas anyone?

Perhaphs we could add to this thread when we all get moments of inspiration!

Concratualations CFB and Bluebell!!

maybe it means looking at the different ways the genders are treated within different communites too...boys highly valued in some, girls not so important when it comes down to education etc, so how home/culture/school would treat these children

Also in China where one child is the norm, how they are valued respectively, and in the countries where girls or disabled children may be abandoned

just a thought, may be way off though

I think I have decided to go with the genders one.

Question:

Evaluate the significance of gender in understanding childhood.
I
will copy the suggested approach here and perhaps we can add our own interpretation of what we need to cover and where?

]INTRODUCTION
* brief statement about the significance of gender in studies of childhood.

* Identify main issues and how you plan to address them. Make sure you distinguish between GENDERS and BIOLOGICAL SEX.

MAIN BODY

Identify some aspects of children's lives[ home/ school/ community/ that appear to be affected by their gender. Draw on examples from course material.
Address the BROADER picture derived from research[ Barrie Thorne Reading]

CONCLUSION
Evaluate/ weigh up the arguments for different points of view.


....................................................................................

So Chloe, I would think you need to mention/ the difference between the scientific approach biological Versus gender/ social constructionist points of view maybe just in the introductions????? so that you can use this as an argument. What do you think?

Anybody an additional thoughts.


I just got to thinking last night that it's chapter five concentrating on gender. There doesn't seem tto much to evaluate from the videos, but I think there is quite a bit on the audio.

Going to get chapter five read this afternoon.

Hi Bluebell,

I think we are both on similar lines. What i like to do is make ONE point each paragraph, so perhphs in the main section have 6 paragraphs.

Is it asking to say the scientific / socalisation perspective sees gender significant because..... the way children are nurtured often leads them to living in separate boys and girls worlds for example??????

But in constrast, the social constructionist approach sees gender as being less separate and distict as people work at doing gender . It is something they do and not are, so poeple can resist stereotypes of masculinities/ femininities....????????????????? so gender is not so important???

Do you think we need to structure it in terms of a section on home, then another one on school ect or would it be better to focus on the key arguments of how the 2 perspectives see the significance of gender, and just use examples to support it.

Are there just 2 perspectives that we need to evaluate?? nurture and social constructionism?


I'm not totally sure how to go about this tma yet. Part of me thinks about leaving this one and looking at childhood innocence instead. I seem to have so much going around my head that i am getting myself confused.

Chlo X

Well, having change my mind and decided to go with the innocence question, i have changed it again and i am back on track with the gender option.

Think i have sussed how to go about it now, just have a slight problem of too many words.lol

For the evaluation bit do we have to suggest which approach sees gender a being more significant in childhood? Or do we have to evaluate the approaches and evidence in terms of coherence etc.

From what i gather the scientific approoach does see it as significant for the lives children lead, and the social constructionist approach sees discourse and the other factors as perhaphs more significant in understanding childhood than gender.

Hummmm, am i barking up the wrong tree here or am i on the right lines.

Any past U212 experts care to offer their expertise on this one?

I can see me having another go at the innocence question before the weeks out!

Have finally finished the gender TMA!!!!!! This is the worst assignment to get my head round in all the courses and TMAs I have ever done. Just got 32 words more than I need so I will soon get rid of them.

How is everyone else doing?

I chose option 2, which I thought was so much easier to write about. I couldn't get my head round the gender question so well done for finishing the TMA. Mine was sent off a few days ago so I'm trying really hard to forget about it and have a chilled out Easter.

Happy Easter

Got my TMA results back this morning and I got 90%!! I'm so pleased as I worked hard on this one. Hope you all get yours back just as quickly. Good luck

well done

Thanks DQ I can now relax and have the chilled out Easter I wanted.

Congratualtions CFB. I got 90% as well. Had to stop up last night to collect it .lol

I think we are all on a role now. Lets keep it up.

you both deserve your Easter eggs this weekend, well done

Congratulations to you both.