Theorizing Childhood - Hardcover

by Allison James (Author), Chris Jenks (Author), Alan Prout (Author)

In recent years there has been a rapid growth of interest in the sociological study of childhood. This new book draws together the major developments in the field. In particular, the book discusses contemporary sociological and anthropological research in order to develop key links between the study of childhood and social theory, exposing its historical, political and cultural dimensions.

Back Jacket

In recent years there has been a rapid growth of interest in the sociological study of childhood. This book brings together the major developments in the field.

Drawing on a large body of contemporary sociological and anthropological research, the book develops key links between the study of childhood and social theory, exposing its historical, political and cultural dimensions. Through a consideration of the twin dimensions of childhood - as a structural feature of societies and as a context of children's everyday lives - the book reveals childhood's socially constructed character. Exploring the spatial and temporal boundaries of children's lives, the authors set out the theoretical contexts within which more empirical studies of childhood are embedded.

Rather than using conventional categories of home, school and play, Theorizing Childhood is organized round themes such as space, time, culture, the body and work. In this way, the book explores the differences in recent approaches to childhood research, inviting valuable new insights into the study of childhood.

Theorizing Childhood is a timely book which demonstrates the centrality of childhood in sociological theory and contemporary debates concerning the state, welfare and morality.

Author Biography

Allison James is Professor of Sociology at the University of Sheffield and Professor II at the Norwegian Centre for Child Research, Norwegian University for Science and Technology, Trondheim; Chris Jenks is Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University; Alan Prout is Professor of Sociology and Childhood Studies at the University of Warwick.