Western representations of childhood and the quest for a spiritual social work practice

Oak, Eileen (2018) Western representations of childhood and the quest for a spiritual social work practice. Socialno Delo, 57 (3). pp. 171-188. ISSN 0352-7956

[img]
Preview
Text
Western-2018-3.pdf - Published Version

Download (389kB) | Preview
Official URL: https://www.revija-socialnodelo.si/mma/Western-201...

Abstract

The article examines the social constructions of childhood in the West over the past century, to illustrate how they stem from adult-centric perspectives and how they continue to shape policy initiatives about children’s rights and welfare. Such perspectives are underpinned by discourses which pre-date the Enlightenment era and continue to have implications for generating child-centred, welfare policies and practice. It will explore these discourses in the context of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCORC), and various social policies to address child abuse. This is to contend that, without a new sociology of childhood approach underpinning these policies, they will continue to fail to address children’s welfare and protection needs, and be implicated in their continued marginalisation. In making this assertion, it argues for a more holistic model of childhood, characterised by the new sociology of childhood combined with a form of secular humanism. Such a synthesis of ideas can offer a more empowering child protection praxis, one which promotes children’s agency and »childhood« as an autonomous stage in the life-cycle. Key words: spirituality, child protection, sociology of childhood, secular humanism, Convention on the Rights of the Child, social policy.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: spirituality, child protection, sociology of childhood, secular humanism, Convention on the Rights of the Child, social policy
Subjects: L500 Social Work
Department: Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Depositing User: Paul Burns
Date Deposited: 01 Aug 2019 16:16
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2021 20:03
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/40245

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics