Rethinking Children's Rights Attitudes in Contemporary Society

by Welch, Sue; Jones, Phil

• ISBN13: 9781847063243
• ISBN10: 1847063241
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-05-18
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic

Summary

Rethinking Children's Rights explores attitudes towards and experiences of children's rights. Phil Jones and Sue Welch draw on a wide range of thought, research and practice from different fields and countries to debate, challenge and re-appraise long-held beliefs, attitudes and ways of working and living with children. Children's own perspectives on their lives and on adults' attitudes towards them are drawn on throughout the book. Recent developments in the definition of rights are considered from a variety of perspectives and within different arenas of children's lives. The future impact of these changes on children and on those around them is examined. The themes discussed include power relations between adults and children, the child's voice, intercultural perspectives, social justice, social exclusion, empowerment, gender and disability.

Author Biography

Phil Jones is Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies and Inclusion, University of Leeds, UK. Sue Welch is Principal Lecturer in Childhood Studies, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction to New Childhoods Series	p. ix
Debates, Dilemmas and Challenges: The Background to Children's Rights
Introduction to Rethinking Children's Rights	p. 3
Introduction and key questions	p. 3
Do societies see child rights in different ways?	p. 4
What do the different responses to the UNCRC reveal?	p. 6
What issues are emerging in relation to rethinking children's rights?	p. 13
How can negative responses to the rights agenda be used to help rethink children's rights?	p. 21
Summary	p. 27
Children's Rights: definitions and developments	p. 29
Introduction and key questions	p. 29
Is there a common understanding of the term 'right?	p. 30
What differences exist in relation to children's rights?	p. 34
How can the history of children's rights help us understand current issues?	p. 40
How do ideas about adult-child relationships affect thinking about children's rights?	p. 48
What does research tell us about the state of children's rights internationally and in the United Kingdom?	p. 51
Summary	p. 55
Further reading	p. 56
Research details	p. 56
An Interdisciplinary Review of Recent Research and Scholarship
Children's Rights: current tensions, debates and research	p. 61
Introduction and key questions	p. 61
What are current, emerging tensions and debates in relation to children's rights?	p. 62
What are some of the implications of these tensions?	p. 66
What is research showing us about tensions and debates concerning children's rights?	p. 73
Summary	p. 80
Further reading	p. 81
Research details	p. 81
Implications for Children's Lives
Rights and the 'Child's Voice'	p. 85
Introduction and key questions	p. 85
What is the meaning of 'child's voice?	p. 86
How does 'voice' relate to rights?	p. 90
What is research revealing about rights-informed practices relating to voice and participation?	p. 95
Summary	p. 108
Further reading	p. 108
Research details	p. 108
Rights and Decision Making	p. 110
Introduction and key questions	p. 110
In what ways does decision making feature in children's lives?	p. 111
What is the relationship between children's rights and decision making?	p. 114
What tensions are emerging concerning decision making and children?	p. 116
What does research reveal about the impact of new thinking and practice in relation to rights and decision making in different spaces within children's lives?	p. 125
Summary	p. 132
Further reading	p. 132
Research details	p. 133
A Rights Perspective on Family Life	p. 135
Introduction and key questions	p. 135
Is there a relationship between children, their families and rights?	p. 136
Can the family support children's rights?	p. 137
How do economic, social and political factors affect families in relation to rights?	p. 139
What is the role of the state in relation to carers, children and their rights?	p. 152
How can we understand the relationship between children, families and rights?	p. 157
Summary	p. 159
Further reading	p. 160
Research details	p. 160
Working with Children	p. 163
Introduction and key questions	p. 163
In what kind of contexts does work with children occur?	p. 164
What rights issues arise for those working with children?	p. 167
What can research tell us about what children want from those who work with them?	p. 172
What positive examples are there of working with children?	p. 175
Summary	p. 182
Further reading	p. 182
Research details	p. 182
References	p. 184
Index	p. 191
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