Policy Press

Local Childhoods, Global Issues

Edited by Heather Montgomery

Published

Mar 1, 2013

Page count

312 pages

Browse the series

Open University Childhood

ISBN

978-1447305835

Dimensions

172 x 248 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Oct 16, 2013

Page count

336 pages

Browse the series

Open University Childhood

ISBN

978-1447309260

Dimensions

248 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Oct 16, 2013

Page count

336 pages

Browse the series

Open University Childhood

ISBN

978-1447309642

Dimensions

248 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press
Local Childhoods, Global Issues

Although the plight of children can sometimes seem grim, there are positive indicators. This interdisciplinary textbook examines children's lives across the world, acknowledging the great differences as well as points of comparison, between childhoods in different contexts. It examines children's use of their own resources and coping strategies, revealing that few children are passive victims of fate, helplessly awaiting rescue.

The book considers the problems caused by poverty, social inequality, ill-health and violence and emphasises that these are challenges for children everywhere, not just those in the poorer countries of the world. A key feature of the book is the children's voices which feature prominently in many chapters in interviews and research conducted by the authors. This well-presented and engagingly written book is an ideal introduction for undergraduates interested in contemporary global childhoods.

Heather Montgomery is Reader in the Anthropology of Childhood at The Open University, UK. She has carried out research with young sex workers in Thailand and written extensively on issues of children's rights, global childhoods and representations of childhood.

Interventions and Ideologies ~ Heather Montgomery; Children, poverty and social inequality ~ Heather Montgomery; Achieving health for children ~ Catherine Panter-Brick; Children and violence ~ Heather Montgomery; Resilience and well being ~ Samantha Punch;  Research on childhood issues as social problems ~ Martyn Hammersley