Childhood Identity Constructions

Identity constructions could be seen as one of the most implicated concerns in areas related to contemporary sociology, philosophy, and cultural studies. Identity constructions can lead to ignorance in ways that remain far from simple or clear, particularly when conceptualised, as open and evolving, as philosopher Julia Kristeva claims. This entry adopts a Kristevan lens to examine identity constructions in children and childhood. From this perspective, childhoods are seen as deeply and crucially implicated in active performances of everyday lived realities, orientations, and attitudes. Specifically, this entry elaborates on the notion that childhood is in various ways manufactured—a product of its physical, social, and political context.