This module will introduce students to the social, historical and cultural constructions of 'childhood' and children within the Western sociological context. It will also provide students with a clear sociological framework/paradigm in which to locate the various perceptions of 'childhood'.

• To introduce students to the social, historical and cultural constructions of 'childhood' and children within the Western sociological context.

• To provide students with a clear sociological framework/paradigm in which to structure the various facets of 'childhood'.

• To develop general study skills in the process of achieving aims (1) and (2).

Lectures will cover the following aspects:

• Introduction: The social construction of 'childhood'
• Socio-historical perspectives on the construction of 'childhood'
• Children and the changing family
• The social world of the child
• Education and socio-economic class
• Children's rights and child protection
• Gendering 'childhood'
• Globalisation and 'childhood' within a capitalist culture
• Children and society in conflict?
• Representations of children in popular culture

Seminar themes will follow lecture topics in the sense that they are designed to clarify or further illustrate points raised in the lectures. There will be a strong thematic vein (following a given sociological paradigm) running through the module as a whole, as well as a related progression from one lecture to the next. It will therefore be possible to deal with a combination of lecture topics within the fortnightly seminar structure. For example:

• What is a child?
• The family
• The peer group
• Children's rights
• Children in popular culture