Publisher's Synopsis
A Case of Neglect? advocates and persuasively exemplifies a qualitative sociology of childhood and offers a critique of the role of qualitative research to the continued development of our understanding of childhood, spoken repeatedly through children?s voices. - - After a long period of dormancy, interest in the sociology of childhood has recently become a focus of attention and scholarly interest. Developments in practice by professionals working and learning in the fields of welfare, education, and youth and community studies have been paralleled by the emergence of specialist courses within sociology degrees. Yet the challenges raised by the sociology of childhood remain marginalised within the social sciences more generally. - - A Case of Neglect? provides an accessible reader and review of the field. Heard wherever possible through children?s and young people?s voices, it provides a penetrating insight into their understandings and experiences of their own and adults? worlds. It also provides a readable an absorbing review of qualitative applications in the sociology of childhood, and a counter to the common reliance on evidence derived from quantitative approaches. - - The fieldwork applications range across the often hidden worlds of children?s and young people?s involvement in prostitution, their experience of abuse, black children?s experiences of social services, children?s school cultures, naturist children and childlessness. - - Always arresting and sometimes poignant, A Case of Neglect? works towards a sociology which is both of and for childhood.
