Childhood and Social Institutions

Catalog description

This course critically examines how social institutions shape and are shaped by childhood experiences. Students will explore the interconnected roles of family, education, healthcare, government, and media in constructing childhood across diverse cultural, political, and economic contexts. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how institutions reflect and reinforce societal values, inequalities, and power dynamics, as well as the ways children and youth actively engage with and resist these structures. The course integrates global and local perspectives, encouraging students to analyze how historical and contemporary issues affect children’s agency, well-being, and opportunities. Students will challenge dominant narratives about childhood while imagining equitable and inclusive futures for children and families. This course is ideal for those interested in education, social work, policy, or youth advocacy.