In this ground-breaking book, Alan Prout discusses the place of children and childhood in modern society. He critically examines 'the new social studies of childhood', reconsidering some of its key assumptions and positions and arguing that childhood is heterogeneous and complex. The study of childhood requires a broad set of intellectual resources and an interdisciplinary approach. Chapters include: the changing social and cultural character of contemporary childhood and the weakening boundary between adulthood and childhood a look back at the emergence of childhood studies in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the nature/culture dichotomy the role of material artefacts and technologies in the construction of contemporary childhood. This book is essential reading for students and academics in the field of childhood studies, sociology and education.
Author(s): Alan Prout
Edition: 1st
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 184
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Acknowledgements......Page 10
Introduction......Page 12
Changing childhood in a globalizing world......Page 18
Childhood studies and the modern mentality......Page 46
The dualities of the social......Page 70
Childhood, nature and culture......Page 94
The future of childhood......Page 124
Afterword......Page 154
References......Page 158
Index......Page 171
