Children, Youth and the City (Routledge Critical Introductions to Urbanism and the City)

More than half of the global and around eighty per cent of the western population grow up in cities. Here, Horschelmann and van Blerk provide a vivid picture of children and youths in the city, how they make sense of it and how they appropriate it through their social actions. Considering the causes and forms of social inequalities in relation to class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, ability and geographical location, this book discusses specific issues such as poverty, homelessness and work. Each chapter draws on examples and cases from both the developed and developing world, and throughout the chapters, it: contrasts experiences of growing up in the city focuses on urban youth culture, consumption and globalization considers contemporary movements towards the role of children and youths in planning processes. Horschelmann and van Blerk argue that youths must be recognised as urban social agents in their own right. Their informative book, though dealing with complex theoretical arguments, relates key ideas to this topical subject in a clear and coherent manner, making this book an excellent resource for students of human geography, urban studies and childhood studies. Description More than half of the global and around eighty per cent of the western population grow up in cities. This text provides a vivid picture of children and youth in the city, how they make sense of it and how they appropriate it through their social actions. Considering the causes and forms of social inequalities in relation to class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, ability and geographical location, this book discusses specific issues such as poverty, homelessness and work. Each chapter draws on examples from both the developed and developing world, and throughout the chapters, the book: contrasts experiences of growing up in the city discusses how social inequalities, together with societal perceptions of childhood and youth, shape experiences of growing up in cities for different young people examines how young people appropriate the city through social and cultural practices considers contemporary movements towards the role of children and youths in planning processes. Children, Youth and the City argues that young people must be recognized as urban social agents in their own right. This informative book deals with complex theoretical arguments and relates key ideas to this topical subject in a clear and coherent manner. The text is enlivened throughout with global case studies, photographs, discussion questions, suggested reading and websites. It is an excellent resource for students of Human Geography, Urban Studies and Childhood Studies Children, Youth and the City argues that young people must be recognised as urban social agents in their own right. This informative book deals with complex theoretical arguments and relates key ideas to this topical subject in a clear and coherent manner. The text is enlivened throughout with global case studies, photographs, discussion questions, suggested reading and websites. It is an excellent resource for students of Human Geography, Urban Studies and Childhood Studies. --Book Jacket Cover 1 Children, Youth and the City 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 List of figures 9 List of boxes 11 Acknowledgements 13 Chapter 1 Introduction 14 Chapter 2 Imagining children and youth in the city 19 Chapter 3 The causes and effects of social inequalities on children and youth in the city 54 Chapter 4 Growing up in the city 95 Chapter 5 Globalisation and youth culture 136 Chapter 6 Participation and active citizenship in the city 170 Chapter 7 Conclusion 210 References 217 Index 245 More than half of the global and around 80 per cent of the Western population grow up in cities. This text provides a vivid picture of children and youth in the city, how they make sense of it and how they appropriate it through their social actions Painting a vivid picture of children and youths in the city, the authors analyze theoretical arguments and international case studies to explore how they make sense of city life, and how they appropriate it through their social actions.