The World Beyond the Family

1
Chapter 17

• The World Beyond the Family

2
Definitions

• Agent of Socialization
• Audiovisual Technology
• Breakfast Programs
• Censorship
• Curriculum
• Defiance of Authority
• Display Media
• Electronic Media

3
Agent of Socialization

• A person or organization, such as school or
  family, that plays an important role in teaching
  children the ways of society.

4
Audiovisual Technology

• Forms of media such as television and video,
  electronic sources such as computers, Internet,
  electronic messages, and interactive games that
  bring together representations of sight and sound.

5
Breakfast Programs

• The provision of breakfast by schools and
  communities for hungry children.

6
Censorship

• The practice of banning or repressing materials
  or ideas considered objectionable.

7
Curriculum

• A set of courses and programs offered at school.

8
Defiance of Authority

• The act of opposing an influential person or
  organization.

9
Display Media

• Eye-catching materials set up to communicate
  information to a large audience for example,
  billboards, signs, window displays.

10
Electronic Media

• Computers, the Internet, electronic messages,
  interactive games, and telecommunication
  technologies.

11
Media, Parents and the School

• Teachers instruct in social conventions (such as
  taking turns, waiting in line, etc.)
  encouraging independence.
• Not every child has a positive experience at
  school which concerns parents.
• Parents welcome the educational potential of
  electronic media.
• TV programs and music help with language
  development, important concepts and so on.
• However, this leaves children open to high-impact
  advertising.
• Parents and caregivers must find a balance
  between the positive and negative influences of
  school and media on the socialization of their
  children.

12
Media Pressures on Parents and Children

• Media sells not only products but lifestyles
• Children are often targets of marketing,
  advertising, and the media parents need to be
  aware of this
• Parents are pressured by their children and the
  media to keep up with recent trends (clothing
  labels or collectible toys)
• Read the case study on page 425 of the textbook
  and discuss the questions aloud.

13
Media Stereotypes and Violence

• Media stereotyping is a subject of major concern
• Stereotyping focuses mostly on gender, race and
  ethnicity
• Violence is another concern with parents and its
  overwhelming presence in the media
• Music videos, movies, video games, and television
  programs contain many violent images including
  abusive language, sexual assault, beatings,
  shootings and stabbings.
• Many studies have linked media violence with
  aggression in children.

14
Media and Lifestyle

• Sex in movies and on TV is portrayed as normal
  and inevitable
• Alcohol is also advertised as commonplace most
  movies and TV programs have alcohol in their
  images
• Media encourages youth to smoke as it is
  portrayed as a part of adulthood
• Media creates a consumption culture with needs
  and wants beyond what is necessary for survival
• Things rather than relationships often define the
  quality of life

15
Media Censorship

• Parents often try to have books banned from
  schools and libraries because of their content
  and are sometimes successful on a local level
• Various groups and organizations have called for
  censorship or banning of different kinds of media
  without much success
• Canada has laws governing obscenity but artistic
  expression is open to interpretation and debate
• Canada has banned tobacco ads from TV but there
  is no censorship for violence

16
Review Questions

• What is an agent of socialization?
• How should schools respond to hunger, violence,
  and defiance of authority?
• Many movies are not made for children, yet they
  watch them and learn from them. How can parents
  control what children see?
• How does media censorship protect children?
• How has media had a positive influence on your
  knowledge of the world?
• What are some general positive aspects of media?