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Changing Childhood in a Globalizing World. Prof Alan Prout University of Warwick. ‘New’ children?. A new version of childhood is being fabricated.
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Changing Childhood in a Globalizing World Prof Alan Prout University of Warwick
A new version of childhood is being fabricated • “In these contemporary images issues of gender, class, poverty, ethnicity and family life are signalled and (sometimes) confronted. The children are diverse. They are sometimes victims but they are also victors. They have emotional range. They are active, aware, judgmental and complex.” • Prout, The Future of Childhood, 2005:12
What drives the changing character of childhood? • No single factor • Demography • Economics • Politics • Socio-technical • All are increasingly global in character
Five Big Issues for the Next 25 Years • Demographic change • Diverse life circumstances and life-chances • Plural socialisation • Individualisation: consumption, voice and choice • Surveillance and regulation
2005 World: 28.3 Africa: 41.4 Latin America: 29.8 Asia: 28.0 Oceania: 24.9 N. America: 20.5 Europe: 15.9 2050 World: 19.8 Africa: 28.0 Latin America: 18.0 Asia: 18.0 Oceania: 18.4 N. America: 17.1 Europe: 14.6 World demographic pictureProportion of children (0-14) in population (2007, World Population Prospects, UN)
Implications? • Welfare state provision and global economic competition? • Childhood resources and the priorities of an ageing population? • Diverse children need flexible and responsive services? • Children’s participation in shaping services? • The outlook: the age of consumption is ending George Soros