The sociology of childhood / William A. Corsaro, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Corsaro, William A.

Series:

Sociology for a new century

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Children.

Physical Description:

xv, 439 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Edition:

Fourth edition.

Place of Publication:

Thousand Oaks, California : Pine Forge Press, [2015]

Summary:

William A. Corsaro's groundbreaking work, The Sociology of Childhood is widely acclaimed as the only text that thoroughly discusses children and childhood from a sociological perspective-providing in-depth coverage of social theories of childhood, the peer cultures and social issues of children and youth, and children and childhood within the frameworks of culture and history. The Fourth Edition has been thoroughly updated to incorporate the latest research and the most pertinent information so readers can engage in powerful discussions on a wide array of topics. New to this Edition, Expanded material on children's symbolic culture and material culture, as well as an updated section, "Children, Parents, and Consumer Culture." New sections on research regarding changing perspectives of American families and immigrant children in the U.S. and Europe. A new section focusing on aggression and bullying among children and youth. "Generation M: Electronic Media in the Lives of Preadolescents and Adolescents" explores debates on the effects of electronic media. "Pattern in Child Population by Race and Ethnicity" documents ongoing changes in the racial and ethnic diversity of the children's population in the U.S., "Socio-Dramatic Role Play" includes two new cases studies, Current policy debates and changing demographics regarding the quality of life for children have been updated and highlight throughout the text. Key Features, Focus on Children's relationships with peers and adults. Presents an interpretive perspective on the sociology of children which contrasts the more traditional socialization or outcome approaches. Evaluates different methodologies for studying children and childhood and discusses the special ethical considerations. Includes a section on children's rights, including the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child. Addresses current policy debates and changing demographic related to children in today's societies. Contains numerous examples of children's actual play and behavior. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part 1 The Sociological Study of Childhood 1

1 Social Theories of Childhood 5

Sociology's Rediscovery of Childhood 5

Traditional Theories: Socialization 7

The Deterministic Model: Society Appropriates the Child 7

The Constructivist Model: The Child Appropriates Society 10

Understanding of Conservation of Mass 12

Interpretive Reproduction: Children Collectively Participate in Society 18

From Individual Progression to Collective Reproductions 23

The Orb Web Model 24

Children's Two Cultures 26

Summary 27

2 The Structure of Childhood and Children's Interpretive Reproductions 29

Assumptions of the Structural Perspective 30

Childhood as a Structural Form 30

Effects of Societal Forces on Childhood 31

Children's Activities and Contributions to Society 33

Childhood, Children's Activities, and Interpretive Reproduction in Peer Culture 40

Three Kinds of Collective Action 41

Summary 43

3 Studying Children and Childhood 45

Macrolevel Methods 46

Demographic Studies 46

Large-Scale Surveys 47

Historical Methods 49

Microlevel Methods 49

Individual and Group Interviews 50

Ethnography and Socio linguistic Analysis 51

Nontraditional Methods in Studying Children 55

Ethical Issues in Researching Children's Lives 59

Summary 60

Part 2 Children, Childhood, and Families in Historical and Cultural Context 63

4 Historical Views of Childhood and Children 65

Philippe Ariès's Centuries of Childhood 66

The Debate Regarding Grand-Stage Theories of the Family and Childhood 68

The New History of Childhood 71

Barbara Hanawalt's Growing Up in Medieval London 73

Slave Children in the Pre-Civil War South 76

American Pioneer and Immigrant Children at the Turn of the 20th Century 79

Summary 85

5 Social Change, Families, and Children 87

Examining Changes in Families From the Children's Perspective 87

Children's Everyday Lives in Families 89

Studies of Families in Western Societies 89

Studies of Families in Non-Western Societies 95

The Effects of Recent Socioeconomic Changes on Families, Children, and Childhood in Western Societies 99

The Rapid Decline of Two-Parent Farm Families and Rise of Father Worker-Mother Homemaker Families 99

The Decline in Family Size 101

The Rise in Mothers' Labor Force Participation 101

The Rise in Single-Parent Families 105

Changing Perspectives of the American Family 106

Racial and Ethnic Diversity of the Population of Children and Youth 109

The Lives of Immigrant Children 110

The Effects of Recent Socioeconomic Changes on Children and Childhood in Developing Societies 114

Summary 116

Part 3 Children's Cultures 119

6 Children's Peer Cultures and Interpretive Reproduction 121

Examining Peer Culture From Children's Perspective 121

Central Importance of Peer Culture in Interpretive Reproduction 122

Parental Versus Peer Effects on Children's Development 123

Children's Transition to Initial Peer Cultures 123

Symbolic Aspects of Children's Cultures 127

The Media 128

Literature and Fairy Tales 131

Mythical Figures and Legends 133

Material Aspects of Children's Cultures 139

Historical Studies of Children's Material Culture 141

Marketing Studies of Children's Material Culture 142

Children, Parents, and Consumer Culture 145

Summary 148

7 Sharing and Control in Initial Peer Cultures 151

Central Themes in Children's Initial Peer Cultures 152

Friendship, Sharing, and Social Participation 154

Play Routines Among Toddlers 154

The Protection of Interactive Space and Children's Early Friendships 158

Language, Sharing Routines, and Rituals 163

Autonomy and Control in Peer Culture 167

Sociodramatic Role-Play 167

Challenging Adult Authority 175

Confronting Confusions, Fears, and Conflicts in Fantasy Play 179

Summary 185

8 Conflict and Differentiation in the Initial Peer Culture 189

Conflict and Peer Relations 189

Discussion, Debate, and Peace in Italian Preschools 190

Oppositional Talk in a Head Start Center 193

Conflict and Friendship in an American Upper-Middle-Class Preschool 197

The Contextual Nature of Conflict and Community 199

Social Differentiation in Initial Peer Cultures 199

Gender Differentiation 199

Race and Race Differentiation 207

Status Differentiation 208

Summary 215

9 Preadolescent Peer Cultures 217

Peer Cultures in Preadolescence 218

Friendship Processes in Preadolescent Peer Cultures 218

Social Participation and Friendships 219

Social Differentiation and Friendships 220

Social Differentiation, Friendships, Gender, Race, and Ethnicity 221

Autonomy and Identity in Preadolescent Peer Cultures 227

Verbal Routines, Games, and Heterosexual Relations 227

Disputes, Conflict, Friendships, and Gender 237

Verbal Disputes and Conflict in Peer Relations 237

Borderwork in Cross-Gender Relations 242

Challenging Adult Authority and Norms 246

Generation M: Electronic Media in the Lives of Preadolescents and Adolescents 247

Patterns in Media Use 247

Effects and Process of Media Use in the Lives of Preadolescents and Adolescents 252

Summary 262

Part 4 Children, Social Problems, and the Future of Childhood 267

10 Children, Social Problems, and the Family 271

Changing Family Structures and Children's Lives 271

Work, Families, and Childhood 272

Working Mothers and Young Children 272

Social Policy Regarding Maternity and Family Leave 274

Social Policy Regarding Child Care and Early Childhood Education 275

Divorce and Its Effects on Children 278

Patterns in Divorce and Economic Consequences for Women and Children 278

Social and Psychological Effects of Divorce on Children 282

Child Abuse in the Family 288

Summary 294

11 Children, Social Problems, and Society 297

Poverty and the Quality of Children's Lives 297

Problems and Progress in Developing Countries 297

Poverty and Child Labor in Developing Countries 303

Child Poverty in Industrialized Countries 306

Variations in Child Poverty and Quality of Life in Industrialized Countries 311

The Human Faces of Poverty: The Story of Nicholas 314

Teen Pregnancy and Nonmarital Births 317

The Rise in Teen Nonmarital Births 317

Possible Causes of Trends in Teen Nonmarital Births 321

Consequences for Teen Parents and Their Children 327

Violence, Victimization, and the Loss of Childhood 329

Summary 339

12 The Future of Childhood 341

The Major Challenges 344

Confronting Child Poverty in the United States 344

Combating Child Poverty in Developing Countries 350

Some More Modest Proposals to Enrich Children's Lives 352

Enhancing the Lives of Families and Children 352

Supporting Families and Children at Risk 359

Acting Right Now 366

Conclusion 367.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781452205441

1452205442

OCLC:

857141304