Growing up in the Modern Age: Global Childhoods

• • Introduction to Childhood and Society
  • Theories of childhood and society
  • The historical development of childhood
  • Children’s rights and child abuse
  • Childhoods and globalisation
  • Childhood, social policy and the state
  • Researching childhood
  • Rotating modules on childhood and contemporary social problems
  • Conclusion

Others

130cp at 1000 level or above

Special requirements

• OtherDetails -

  Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.

This subject examines sociological approaches to childhood as a way of understanding how societies work. Global burdens of health, environmental sustainability and economic security all involve intergenerational transfers of risks and have consequences for current and future generations. The unit examines these issues by introducing students to contemporary social theories about childhood and children's rights; the role that intergenerational relations play in understanding societies; how globalisation affects the experience of childhood in different parts of the world; and the implications these have for social policy, service and professional practices for children and families. The unit is in three parts. The first part canvasses foundation knowledge including social theories of childhood; the historical development of childhood; and researching childhood. The second part applies this to the key topics of children's rights and child abuse; childhoods and globalisation; and childhood, social policy and the state. The third part will include rotating modules on childhood and contemporary social problems. On the basis of these three parts students will gain a clearer understanding of the importance of generation for contemporary societies.

• Participation (20%)
• Quizzes (15%)
• Critical Reflection (25%)
• Essay (40%)