The ‘New Sociology of Childhood’ and Child Labour

Abstract

Chapter one, written by Michael Lavalette, engages with many of the themes of the so-called ‘new sociology of childhood’ and looks at the recent sociological discussion of the ‘social construction’ of childhood. The chapter addresses the ways in which the concept of childhood has changed throughout history and relates these changes to other developments in society. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the consequences for children once they have been ‘liberated’ from their childhood, and attempts to distinguish the difference between child employment and child exploitation, asking if the discussion surrounding child labour should really be a discussion of whether a child has the right to work.