Childhood Sociology in Ten Countries

Abstract

This article gives an overview of the preceding set of reports on the global state of the art of the sociology of childhood in Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, the UK and the USA. Intensive sociological research on children has had a relatively short history, but in that time it has become an important contribution to the analysis of society. It has the capacity to serve as an x-ray or a magnifying glass, or just to provide an additional perspective in analysing social processes. It is clear from all the reports that sociological research and its social background are interdependent. Although childhood sociology has always been internationally oriented, there is a variety of themes and approaches and different emphases placed on particular topics in the different countries. Such differences can be traced back to the social definitions of childhood characterizing the respective societies. For almost all of the countries, however, there is only a weak connection between sociological research concerning children and the core domains of sociology. Some recommendations for future research development are outlined.