Changing Childhood in a Globalizing World

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Changing Childhood in a Globalizing World

• Prof Alan Prout
• University of Warwick

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New children?
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A new version of childhood is being fabricated

• In these contemporary images issues of gender,
  class, poverty, ethnicity and family life are
  signalled and (sometimes) confronted. The
  children are diverse. They are sometimes victims
  but they are also victors. They have emotional
  range. They are active, aware, judgmental and
  complex.
• Prout, The Future of Childhood, 200512

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What drives the changing character of childhood?

• No single factor
• Demography
• Economics
• Politics
• Socio-technical
• All are increasingly global in character

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Five Big Issues for the Next 25 Years

• Demographic change
• Diverse life circumstances and life-chances
• Plural socialisation
• Individualisation consumption, voice and choice
• Surveillance and regulation

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World demographic picture Proportion of children
(0-14) in population (2007, World Population
Prospects, UN)

• 2005
• World 28.3
• Africa 41.4
• Latin America 29.8
• Asia 28.0
• Oceania 24.9
• N. America 20.5
• Europe 15.9

• 2050
• World 19.8
• Africa 28.0
• Latin America 18.0
• Asia 18.0
• Oceania 18.4
• N. America 17.1
• Europe 14.6

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Implications?

• Welfare state provision and global economic
  competition?
• Childhood resources and the priorities of an
  ageing population?
• Diverse children need flexible and responsive
  services?
• Childrens participation in shaping services?
• The outlook the age of consumption is ending
  George Soros