AP/HUMA 3694 3.00

Contemporary Childhoods: Theories, Policies and Stereotypes

This is an in-depth course that will explore contemporary theories of childhood and their implication on the lived experiences of children around the world. The first module of the course explores new and developing childhood theories within the fields of children's geographies, children and development, gender studies, digital culture and within international rights discourse. Reviewing these theories allows students to understand how children are conceptualized and how various social, political, economic and cultural contexts impact upon their unique cultures. The second module explores how theories intersect with the creation, implementation and enforcement of children's policies worldwide. National policies concerning children around the world will be analyzed including policies on child marriage, children's participation in armed service and child labour laws. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child will be examined, particularly the mechanics of international monitoring and the impact of the UNCRC on children's lives worldwide. Building on students' previous exposure to normative discourses, understandings and constructions of childhood, the policy module will ask students to think critically about how stereotypes about children and childhoods intersect with global policy, and impact upon the lives of children worldwide.