The Sociology of Childhood′The provision of many amusing examples from Corsaro′s own research experience with children make his book a thoroughly enjoyable read as well as a valuable critical sociological analysis of childhood′ - Sociology The Sociology of Childhood is the Second Edition of a text that has been universally acclaimed as the best book on the subject available today. It is the only text that thoroughly covers children and childhood from a sociological perspective. The second edition retains the same quality coverage of social theories of childhood, the consideration of children and childhood in historical and cultural perspective, children′s peer cultures from preschool through preadolescence, and the social problems of children. The book has been updated to include new research, information, and discussions on the latest social indicators regarding children in the United States and around the world. Key Features New chapter on up-to-date methods of research for studying children. New chapters on theory, cultural change, and children′s peer cultures. New section on children′s rights including a description and discussion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Updated chapter on the Future of Childhood addresses current policy debates and changing demographics related to children in today′s societies. Contains many examples of children′s actual play and behavior. Provides photographs and charts that capture the complexity and diversity of children′s lives. The Sociology of Childhood is highly recommended for use as the core text in courses on the sociology of children and childhood, as well as for parents, teachers, and other adults interested in the social lives and development of children. It can also be used in early education, child development, and child psychology courses, and as a supplemental text in the area of family studies. William A. Corsaro is the Robert H. Shaffer Class of 1967 Endowed Professor of Sociology at Indiana University, Bloomington, where he teaches courses on the sociology of childhood, childhood in contemporary society, and ethnographic research methods. Corsaro is the author of Friendship and Peer Culture in the Early Years (1985) and "We′re Friends, Right": Inside Kids′ Culture (2003). He was a Fulbright Senior Research Fellow in Bologna, Italy, in 1983-84 and a Fulbright Senior Specialist Fellow in Trondheim, Norway, in 2003. His research has been featured on NPR, the BBC in London, and in the New Yorker. |
Contents
The Sociological Study of Childhood | 1 |
Social Theories of Childhood | 5 |
Socialization | 7 |
Childrens Understanding of Conservation of Mass | 12 |
Children Collectively Participate in Society | 18 |
Do Chips Have Blood on Them? | 20 |
Summary | 27 |
The Structure of Childhood and Childrens Interpretive Reproductions | 29 |
Friendship Sharing and Social Participation | 136 |
The Little Chairs Routine | 137 |
Access Rituals in an American Preschool | 141 |
Italian Childrens Production of the Cantilena in Discussione | 146 |
Autonomy and Control in Peer Culture | 149 |
The Walking Bucket | 154 |
La Strega | 156 |
Summary | 158 |
The New American Grandparent | 31 |
Age and Gender in Hausa Society | 33 |
Childhood Childrens Activities and Interpretive Reproduction in Peer Culture | 40 |
Preschool Childrens Secondary Adjustments to Teachers Rules | 42 |
Summary | 43 |
Studying Children and Childhood | 45 |
Macrolevel Methods | 46 |
Microlevel Methods | 49 |
Nontraditional Methods in Studying Children | 55 |
Ethical Issues in Researching Childrens Lives | 56 |
Summary | 58 |
Children Childhood and Families in Historical and Cultural Context | 59 |
Historical Views of Childhood and Children | 61 |
Philippe Ariess Centuries of Childhood | 62 |
The Debate Regarding GrandStage Theories of the family and Childhood | 65 |
The New History of Childhood | 67 |
The Newsies | 78 |
Summary | 80 |
Social Change Families and Children | 83 |
Childrens Everyday Lives in Families | 85 |
Amy Sticks Up for Her Mom | 88 |
The Effects of Recent Socioeconomic Changes on Children and Childhood in Western Societies | 95 |
The Effects of Recent Socioeconomic Changes on Children and Childhood in Developing Societies | 102 |
Summary | 104 |
Childrens Cultures | 107 |
Childrens Peer Cultures and Interpretive Reproduction | 109 |
Central Importance of Peer Culture in Interpretive Reproduction | 110 |
Symbolic Aspects of Childrens Cultures | 115 |
Material Aspects of Childrens Cultures | 125 |
Summary | 131 |
Sharing and Control in Initial Peer Cultures | 133 |
Central Themes in Childrens Initial Peer Cultures | 134 |
Conflict and Differentiation in the Initial Peer Culture | 161 |
Bad Wolves Do Not Exist | 162 |
Social Differentiation in Initial Peer Cultures | 171 |
Summary | 188 |
Preadolescent Peer Cultures | 191 |
Peer Cultures in Preadolescence | 192 |
Autonomy and Identity in Preadolescent Peer Cultures | 201 |
Cradle of Love | 208 |
Disputes Conflict Friendships and Gender | 211 |
Boys and Cooties | 217 |
Summary | 221 |
Children Social Problems and the Future of Childhood | 225 |
Children Social Problems and the Family | 229 |
Work Families and Childhood | 230 |
Divorce and Its Effects on Children | 236 |
Child Abuse in the Family | 243 |
Summary | 248 |
Children Social Problems and Society | 251 |
The Abraham Lincoln of Child Workers | 258 |
The Story of Nicholas | 265 |
Teen Pregnancy and Nonmarital Births | 267 |
Violence Victimization and the Loss of Childhood | 275 |
Summary | 281 |
The Future of Childhood | 283 |
The Major Challenges | 286 |
Some More Modest Proposals to Enrich Childrens Lives | 293 |
Conclusion | 310 |
311 | |
339 | |
About the Author | |
Common terms and phrases
Popular passages
References to this book
Constructing Childhood: Theory, Policy and Social Practice Allison James,A. James No preview available - 2004 |