History of Children and Childhood

Catalog description

History of Children and Childhood will survey how notions of ?children? and ?childhood? expanded alongside the formalization of social science scholarship that focused on children. The study of children as historical subjects is necessary to fully understand the complexities of social, cultural, economic, and political histories worldwide. This class will examine the social construction of ?childhood? in various global contexts from the 1920s to today. During the 1920s, health specialists, child advocates, human rights activists, educators, and historians made evident their interest in children?s health programs, access to education, and child labor conditions. In examining the outcomes of those inquiries this course will survey how notions of childhood expanded alongside the growth of scholarship on children