Connecting a sociology of childhood perspective with the study of child health, illness and wellbeing: introduction

Geraldine Brady, Pam Lowe, Sonja Olin Lauritzen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference outputChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

Abstract

This chapter focuses on concepts and theoretical points of departure found in child health and wellbeing studies. Firstly, seeing children as a social group draws attention to the ways this group is placed and perceived in the structures of societies. Children as a social group need to be understood in relation to other social groups. Secondly, understanding children as social agents and as co-constructors of their social worlds is fundamental to studying their experiences and ways of dealing with health and wellbeing in everyday life. Thirdly, in recent years, there has been a turn towards seeing children as beings. The chapter discusses the child health issues and concerns in contemporary society. Children are diagnosed with an increasing range of conditions and are subject to more and more elaborate child health and welfare interventions, reflecting a medical perspective on the changing panorama of illness and health risks in the 21st century.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationChildren, health and well-being
Subtitle of host publicationpolicy debates and lived experience
EditorsGeraldine Brady, Pam Lowe, Sonja Olin Lauritzen
Place of PublicationChirchester (UK)
PublisherWiley-Blackwell
Pages1-12
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-119-06952-2
ISBN (Print)978-1-119-06951-5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2015

Publication series

NameSociology of health and illness monographs
PublisherWiley-Blackwell
Number2
Volume37

Keywords

  • child health
  • social group
  • sociology of childhood perspective

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