The aim of
RC53 (Sociology of Childhood) is to contribute to the development of
sociological and interdisciplinary childhood research, uniting professional
knowledge, scientific rigour, and dedication of its members to work on
childhood issues at national, regional, and international levels.
RC53
promotes and disseminates research on children’s presence and participation in
social life. Until the last twenty years of 20th Century, children were
prevalently studied as passive receivers of socialization processes and as
learners in education systems. Starting from this background, Sociology of
Childhood has been promoting new approaches according to which children are
seen in their social relationships, as permanent social structure of society,
as social actors in daily interactions and/or as agents of social change, in
family, institutions, groups, communities. In these contexts, research analyses
both the hierarchical order according to which children are submitted to
adults’ rules, and the opportunity that children have to change these rules.
The
Sociology of Childhood analyses children’s economic condition, institutional
efforts to support children, how children are seen in society by parents,
professionals and media, and children’s perspectives on their social
environment and their relation with it. For this analysis, the sociology of
childhood promotes empirical research based on both quantitative methods (using
statistical analysis) and qualitative methods (using interviews, ethnographies
and analysis of interactions).
The
Sociology of childhood gives particular attention to the different forms of
childhood and the different conditions of children’s life and participation, in
a highly differentiated and unequal global society.
