What is childhood? In recent years, a cluster of critical and complex
ideas have emerged around the nature of biological, social and
psychological growth in the early years, reflecting the changing nature
of adult - child relations, and political and cultural understandings of
childhood in the twenty-first century.
In this clear and concise book, Michael Wyness offers fresh insights
into the current state of play within childhood studies. Drawing on work
from a number of disciplines including sociology, geography and history,
he discusses the contested terrain of theoretical and research advances
with particular attention to the notion of children's agency and the
concept of global childhoods. Key conceptual debates are illustrated
through a range of contemporary issues that affect children and adults,
including inequality, child abuse, ill-health, child labour,
sexualization and identity formation.
This book will appeal to students and academics within the fields of
sociology, education, geography, history and childhood studies.