Description
Book SynopsisDavid Oswell uses the idea of children's agency to survey the main issues in childhood studies, including family, schooling, crime, health, consumer culture, work and human rights. He traces the transformation of children and childhood across two centuries and places children's agency in the context of leading theoretical approaches.
Trade Review'This book offers a lucid and authoritative reconceptualisation of agency and probes crucial issues surrounding contemporary childhood and childhood studies. A text to think with - and act on.' Kirsten Drotner, University of Southern Denmark
'An insightful and very welcome addition to the field, The Agency of Children offers a fresh and distinctive approach to childhood studies. Harmonising past and present with his own clear voice, Oswell develops an original commentary that is a must-read for all who seek to understand children and childhood in contemporary times.' Mary Jane Kehily, The Open University
'A hugely significant reworking of the concept of agency with respect to children and childhood. Essential reading for all involved in the field.' Valerie Walkerdine, Distinguished Research Professor, Cardiff University
Table of ContentsPart I. Introduction: 1. Introduction; 2. Agency after Ariès: sentiments, natures and spaces; Part II. Social Theories of Children and Childhood: 3. Modern social theories: agency and structure; 4. Partial and situated agency; 5. Subjectivity, experience and post-social assemblages; Part III. Spaces of Experience, Experimentation and Power: 6. Family and household; 7. School and education; 8. Crime and criminality; 9. Health and medicine; 10. Play and consumer culture; 11. Political economies of labour; 12. Rights and political participation; Part IV. Conclusions: 13. Conclusions.
