Towards A Sociology For Childhood - Softcover

Mayall, .

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0335208428 ISBN 13: 9780335208425

Publisher: Open University Press, 2002

Synopsis

"...explores some very timely and critical issues in the current development of Childhood Studies...It will be especially valuable for students because it integrates concrete empirical studies with reflection on underlying theoretical assumptions." - Leena Alanen, Professor in Early Childhood Education, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland

This important book moves the sociology of childhood forward. Berry Mayall argues, that, since childhood is a permanent component of society, in order to understand how society works, we must take account of children as well as adults, otherwise our explanation omits an important social group. Children's lives are shaped by policies and practices, but they are also agents, who make a life for themselves through their relationships with adults and other children. This book argues that feminist theory and practice is useful for understanding childhood; we should start from the children's own accounts to show how the organisation of social relations provides an explanation for their social position.

This is a political book: through analysis of children's own descriptions and evaluations of childhood, it argues for an improved social status of childhood, including respecting children's rights. The book also shows that in order to understand childhood we must take account of both child-adult relations (generational relations) and gender relations.

It is essential reading for childhood sociologists and feminists, and for all those seeking to raise the social status of childhood. It is highly recommended to students of childhood studies, at all levels.

About this title

About the Author

Berry Mayall is currently Professor of Childhood Studies at the Institute of Education, University of London. She has worked on many research studies on the daily lives of children and their parents; and in the last ten years has focused on children's own accounts, including their understanding of childhood. Her work is widely recognized; and she has been invited to speak and write about it both in the UK and internationally.

Review

"...explores some very timely and critical issues in the current development of Childhood Studies...It will be especially valuable for students because it integrates concrete empirical studies with reflection on underlying theoretical assumptions."-Leena Alanen, Professor in Early Childhood Education, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland

Edition details

• Publisher: Open University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0335208428
• ISBN 13: 9780335208425
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192