Detinjstvo kao društvena tvorevina - osnove za sociologiju detinjstva

Abstract

As opposed to the widely spread notion of childhood as 'natural', 'normal' and 'temporary' phenomenon, this article supports the thesis that childhood is the social construction which as such deserves full attention of sociology. So called 'new paradigm for the sociology of childhood' has been established on few basic propositions. First, there is the demand for childhood to be considered as the structural and cultural feature of different societies. Second, childhood must be included in social analysis. Third, children have to be considered as active beings in making their social environment, rather than passive objects of social processes. Fourth, social relations and cultural characteristics of childhood should be studied on their own account independent of the adult prospective. Fifth, the ethnographic method is especially fruitful for the approach which demands 'child's voice to be heard'. At last, besides studying childhood in a new manner, sociology should be engaged in its reconstruction. After having analyzed few main topics of contemporary childhood, such as: the emergence of the modern concept of childhood; the controversial status of childhood in contemporary society; the relation of sociology to the study of childhood, the author comes to the conclusion that the most fruitful approach to the study of childhood in sociology is provided by its conceptualization as the social practice.