Module description
This module examines how global social, economic, political and technological processes such as globalisation, the spread of capitalism and neo-liberalism impact on children's lives in diverse ways across the world. Some of the processes and outcomes of these global influences include poverty and child labour; family change; refugees and migration; 'radicalisation'; child carers; and environmental challenges. This module explores how children's experiences of these processes are shaped by their [children's] physical location in the Global North and Global South, and intersect with their identities as children, young people, girls, boys, and members of minority or majority ethnic groups in those locations. It illuminates a number of theoretical approaches (feminist, post-structuralist, post-colonialist) that students can deploy in examining childhood globally. This module takes a thematic approach, inviting students to engage in a global and overarching inquiry into issues affecting childhood(s) in many areas of the world. The module has a focus on programmes and interventions run by governmental and non-governmental organisations, and considers the intersections and tensions between research, theory and practice.
Students are required to undertake, at the minimum, the core reading and tasks set for each week.
Assessment details
- 4,500 word case study (worth 70% of final grade)
- presentation (worth 30% of final grade)
Educational aims & objectives
By the end of the module you should:
• Have a sophisticated knowledge and understanding the socially, culturally and politically constructed nature of global childhoods, and issues facing children internationally.
• Be able to recognise and utilise a variety of theoretical perspectives which are applied in the study of global childhoods.• Have developed an analytical and critical approach to the study of global childhoods which view childhood as plural and contextualised.
• Have developed the knowledge, skills and understanding to critically analyse evidence(arguments and data) in taking a global perspective on childhood in different social and cultural contexts.
• The ability to construct and communicate a complex argument in a concise and coherent presentation, and written case study drawing upon learning from this module.