Constructions of Childhood in India

Book excerpt: This book explores the dominant constructions of childhood as perceived by children and adults in contemporary Indian society. It unveils the everyday lived experiences of children within family life to explain the meaning of childhood and the position of children as social groups. Based on detailed qualitative study, this volume discusses the themes and issues that impact dominant constructions of childhood. It establishes childhood as a structurally constructed category and sheds light on how key social differences influence the diverse experiences of childhood. The book critically examines how children, as social actors, contribute to the structural space of childhood through the recognition of their own experiences, voices, and ways of interpretations. Further, it also compares and analyses childhoods of today with those of the past generations. Engagingly written and nuanced, the book will be of great interest to teachers and students of education, childhood studies, elementary education, sociology of education and social psychology. It will also be useful for teachers of teacher training institutions, policymakers, educationalists, education professionals, parents and researchers working with children and childhood studies.