Childism

Childism is sometimes defined as viewing the social from the perspective of childhood. This includes taking children’s experiences and perspectives seriously, but it also goes beyond. In this context, viewing implies conducting objective analyses of children’s positions in society and in social theory with a view to carrying out theoretical reconstruction relating to criticism of, and claims about, social justice and recognition for children. While childism includes both a political and a scientific dimension that are interrelated but not identical. This entry offers a definition of childism, exploring its central claims and its limitations.

Childism Defined

Politically, childism puts forward the radical notion that despite differences in age, body size, brain development, experience, and power, children and adults are inherently of equal worth, and children’s perspectives ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles