Sociology of Children and Childhood Syllabus

Sociology of Children and Childhood - Syllabus

Sociology of Childhood - Spring 2005 - SYA 4930
Instructor: Dr. Constance L. Shehan, Professor of Sociology
E-mail: shehan@soc.ufl.edu
Class website:clas.ufl.edu/users/shehan/spring2005/sya4930/

Course Description:
This course represents a relatively recent development in the field of sociology --
a re-examination of popular and scholarly notions about children’s “nature,” needs, interests, values, morals, and capabilities.

Until the late 1980s, sociologists tended to include children in our studies as passive objects in an adult-controlled process of socialization and as causes or victims of social problems.

The “new” Sociology of Childhood puts all aspects of children’s lives at the center of investigation. And, rather than assuming that children are passive participants in interactions that involve adults, the new Sociology of Childhood starts from the assumption that children are active participants; rather than simply responding to the demands, instructions, or interpretations of adults, children make independent contributions to social life which may affect adults.

Course Organization:
We begin with an examination of the changing social circumstances of contemporary children’s lives, primarily in the United States. We focus on family and economic changes and give considerable attention to social class differences in children’s life experiences. We next examine traditional and emerging
perspectives on childhood socialization. Before reviewing recent research on gender and racial socialization of children, we consider methodological issues involved in studying children. Our next topic is the peer cultures created by children. We end with a brief discussion of fairy tales and legends and children’s interpretations and uses of these cultural products.

Course Objectives
1) To become familiar with research that describes changes in the societal definitions of childhood and
children’s “place” in society.
2) To become aware of the methodological issues associated with research about children that puts their
own perspectives at center stage.
3) To become more familiar with qualitative or interpretive research methods (e.g., ethnographies, case
studies, participant observations).
4) To acquire in-depth knowledge about the social, emotional, and economic circumstances of
children’s lives today and to learn how to find valid and reliable statistical information about
children on an aggregate level.
5) To understand more fully the differences between sociological and psychological perspectives on
childhood.
6) To have the opportunity to read original research about children that puts their perspectives rather
than adult perspectives at the center of analysis.
7) To become familiar with examples of cultural artifacts created by, for, or with children.
Required Texts/Reading Materials:
(1) Corsaro, William (2005). The Sociology of Childhood. Pine Forge Press (paperback).
(2) Corsaro, William (2003). We’re Friends, Right? Joseph Henry Press (paperback).
(3) Laureau, Annette (2003) Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life. University of
California Press (paperback)
(4) Clark, Cindy Dell (1995). Flights of Fancy, Leaps of Faith: Children’s Myths in Contemporary
America. University of Chicago Press (paperback)

Week 1 (January 4): Introduction to Course: Distribution of Syllabus;
?Group Exercise and discussion – Reaction Paper
Week 2 (January 11): Social Inequalities and Children’s Lives
?Sign-up for mini-internship occurs this week!!! Don’t miss it!
A. Overview of Sociological Perspectives on Inequalities, Social Stratification, Social Class
B. Upper Class Kids: Privilege and Everyday Life
?Documentary: Born Rich – Reaction Paper
READ: Laureau, Chapters 1-3, 6,8, 9, 12, Appendices B and C; all relevant footnotes
?Visit web-site for Jack and Jill clubs: www.jack-and-jill.org before class. Print out the club’s
history.
Week 3 (January 18) Underprivileged Kids: Poverty and Everyday Life
?Mandatory orientation for volunteering in school occurs this week!!!
?Video/Film: either In America or Angela’s Ashes – Reaction Paper
READ: Laureau, Chapters 4, 5, 7, 10, 11;
Corsaro 2005, Chapter 11, pp. 251-267
?Assignment Due: Journal entry about school chosen for volunteer work.
?Visit web-site, www.childtrends.org
Print out and bring to class the following report available at this site:
Under Research Areas (on right hand side of screen),
Scroll down to Welfare and Poverty – get report (1) “Children in Working Poor
Families.”
Also, under Press Releases/Media Advisories, print out (2) “Poor Children in
Working Families Continue to Lag Behind.”
Week 4 (January 25) Social Inequalities and Schools
READ: Review Laureau
?Mini-Internship (Volunteer Work) begins this week!! From this point on, you will submit
journal entries weekly.
?Assignment Due: Journal entry about socio-economic context of school volunteer site
?Visit web-site for Annie E. Casey Foundation: www.aecf.org
Go to the page for the KIDS COUNT 2004 Data Book. Print out the profile for
US – 10 Key Indicators of Child Well-Being. Also, get Florida’s profile and ranking on
these indicators.
Week 4 (January 25) The Changing Socio-Economic Context of Children’s Lives
READ: Corsaro 2005, Chapters 5, 10, 11, 12
?Visit Web-Site www.childtrends.org for additional READING
Print out and bring to class the following report available at this site:
Under Research Areas (on right hand side of screen)
Scroll down to – get report (1) “Family Strengths: Often Overlooked, But Real.”
Week 5 (February 1) Parental Employment and Child Care: Children’s Responses
?Visit web-site: Families and Work Institute: www.familiesandwork.org
Print out and bring to class (1) report of new study called “Gender and Generation at the
Work Place” and (2) press release for study called “When Work Works.”
Week 6 (February 8) Violence, Abuse, and Neglect in Children’s Lives
?Film: Ellen Foster – Discussion; Reaction Paper
?Visit web-site: www.childtrends.org for additional READING
Print out and bring to class the following reports available at this site:
Click on Child Abuse and Neglect and Family Violence –go to Recent
Products, then print out “Child Abuse and Neglect: Media Handbook” and
“The Multiple Dimensions of Child Abuse and Neglect.”
Week 7 (February 15) EXAM 1 (first half of class session)
Week 7 (February 15) -- Gender Socialization: How Children Learn About Gender
(Second half of session)
?Film: Ma Vie en Rose (My Life in Pink) – Reaction Paper
Week 8 (February 22) – Traditional and Emerging Perspectives on Child Socialization
READ: Corsaro 2005, Chapters 1-2
SPRING BREAK
Week 9 (March 8) Research Methods for Studying Children; Children’s Culture (Overview)
READ: Corsaro 2005, Chapter 3, 6 - 8; Corsaro 2003, Chapter 1;
Laureau, Appendix A: Clark, Appendix
?Film/Video: Stand by Me – Reaction Paper
Week 10 (March 15) Peer Culture in Kindergarten and Elementary School
READ: Corsaro 2003, Chapters 2-8
?Video: Selected episodes from Kindergarten (HBO) – Reaction Paper
Week 11 (March 22) Peer Culture among Pre-Adolescents
READ: Corsaro 2005, Chapter 9
?Film/Video: Thirteen or Planet 12—Reaction Paper
Week 12 (March 29) EXAM 2 (first half of session)
Week 13 (April 5) – Children’s Culture
?Visit web site of UF’s Center for the Study of Children’s Literature and Culture:
http:// www.clas.ufl.edu/cclc/
Week 14 (April 12) – Children’s Myths and Rituals (I)
READ: Clark, Chapters 1-4
Week 15 (April 19) – Children’s Myths and Rituals (II)
READ: Clark, Chapter 5-7
Week 15 (April 19) – Course Wrap-Up