Childhood, Culture and Society

This book is indeed an exciting read! Written with clarity and thoroughly argued, Wyness confirms his place as one of the key authors within contemporary social science writing on children and childhood. The book provides an insightful account of the important shift from a modernist 20th century version of childhood, with its emphasis on child protection, development and independence to a post-modern 21st  century conception of childhood, with its focus on children’s voice, agency and participation in the families, communities and societies where they grow up. Childhood, Culture and Society is a formidable exploration of the nature of contemporary childhood in globally disparate regions. Running through the book is not only a committed scholarly voice, but also the recognition of an inevitable political dimension to childhood in the discussion of an array of empirical themes and concerns.

• IntroductionChapter 1 | InnocenceChapter 2 | DependenceChapter 3 | The A-social ChildChapter 4 | Future OrientationChapter 5 | DevelopmentalismChapter 6 | SocialisationChapter 7 | Peer GroupsChapter 8 | Social ConstructionChapter 9 | AgencyChapter 10 | GenerationChapter 11 | GlobalisationChapter 12 | RightsChapter 13 | ParticipationChapter 14 | ProtectionChapter 15 | SchoolingThematic Introduction A | Politics of a Global ChildhoodChapter 16 | Children as Global SubjectsChapter 17 | Children and International AidChapter 18 | Children and Military Conflict: Agency, Resilience and CulpabilityChapter 19 | Child Migration, Mediation and Intergenerational RelationsChapter 20 | Children and the Political RealmThematic Introduction B | Children, Childhood and DiversityChapter 21 | Children and their WorkChapter 22 | Children and Digital TechnologyChapter 23 | Children and Identity FormationChapter 24 | Children’s Use of SpaceThematic Introduction C | Growing UpChapter 25 | Children and their FamiliesChapter 26 | Children, Schooling and Social InequalityChapter 27 | Children and PlayChapter 28 | Children, Popular Culture and LeisureChapter 29 | Children and their BodiesThematic Introduction D | Children and AdversityChapter 30 | Children and PovertyChapter 31 | Children and HIV/AIDSChapter 32 | Child Maltreatment, Vulnerability and TraffickingChapter 33 | Children and Economic ExploitationChapter 34 | Children and CrimeConclusion