Overview

The module will encourage students to challenge and debate dominant ideas about childhood and youth, and may include an exploration of the following questions and topics:

How are meanings of childhood and youth constructed in society? How have ideas about childhood and youth changed over time? How are children and young people portrayed (in the media, within educational contexts) Risk and resilience Gender stereotyping Childhood and youth as times of innocence or deviance Commercialization of childhood and youth How do ideas about gender shape and influence children and young people’s identities? Disney and the portrayal of gender roles Has technology liberated or ruined young people? Are children and young people victims of consumerism or are they empowered by it?

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Threshold: D-, D, D+A satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the key historical and social ideas relevant to the study of childhood and youth. An adequate ability to discuss key areas of influence (such as technology or advertising) on children and young people's lives in contemporary society

-good -Good: C-, C, C+A significant knowledge and understanding of the key historical and social ideas relevant to the study of childhood and youth. A good ability to discuss key areas of influence on children and young people's lives in contemporary society. Work at this level shows some reasonably good engagement with wider research.

-excellent -Excellent: A- to A*A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the key historical and social ideas relevant to the study of childhood and youth. An exceptional ability to discuss key spheres of influence on children and young people's lives in contemporary society. Work at this level engages deeply with research and offers some independent thought and reflection based on such engagement.

Learning Outcomes

• Show an informed understanding of factors that have shaped childhood and youth in historical and contemporary contexts

• demonstrate an insight into social attitudes and portrayals of children and young people in contemporary society (in relation to key areas such as technology, gender, play)

• demonstrate the ability to make connections between theoretical ideas about childhood and youth with contemporary experiences in the lives of children and young people

• show an informed understanding of the key social and historical discourses of childhood