Thatcher's Children?: Politics, Childhood And Society In The 1980s And 1990s (The World of Childhood & Adolescence)

That childhood is a social construction is understood both by social scientists and in society generally. The authors of this book examine the political issues surrounding childhood, including law making, social policy, government provisions and political activism.; This text examines current social and political issues involving childhood. It looks at the impact of the "New Right" who talk of family values, parent power in schools, irresponsible provision of contraception to young girls and the increase in child violence as a result of mass media. It also considers the response of the caring professions and the "Modern Left" who campaign, amongst other things, for the establishment of children's rights. Booknews Taking as given the social construction of childhood, social scientists look at its political construction in the realms of law making, social policy, government provision, and political activism during two decades of New Right rule in Britain. They explore such issues as family values, parent power in schools, child abuse, young offenders, sex and the under-age, child poverty and prostitution, and child violence and the mass media. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. The Authors Of This Book Examine The Political Issues Surrounding Childhood Including Law Making, Social Policy, Government Provision & Political Activisim. It Will Be A Highly Pertinent Text For Students And Teachers In Higher Education. 1. Introduction: Thatcher's Children? / Jane Pilcher And Stephen Wagg -- 2. 'don't Try To Understand Them': Politics, Childhood And The New Education Market / Stephen Wagg -- 3. 'keeping It In The Family': Thatcherism And The Children Act 1989 / Karen Winter And Paul Connolly -- 4. The New Politics Of Child Protection / Nigel Parton -- 5. Back To The Future? Youth Crime, Youth Justice And The Rediscovery Of 'authoritarian Populism' / Tim Newburn -- 6. Gillick And After: Children And Sex In The 1980s And 1990s / Jane Pilcher -- 7. Growing Pains: The Developing Children's Rights Movement In The Uk / Annie Franklin And Bob Franklin -- 8. The Politics Of Child Poverty 1979-1995 / Carey Oppenheim And Ruth Lister -- 9. Killing The Age Of Innocence: Newspaper Reporting Of The Death Of James Bulger / Bob Franklin And Julian Petley 10. 'i've Just Seen A Hole In The Reality Barrier!': Children Childishness And The Media In The Ruins Of The Twentieth Century / Patricia Holland -- 11. Thatcher's Working Children: Contemporary Issues Of Child Labour / Michael Lavalette -- 12. Child Prostitution And Tourism: Beyond The Stereotypes / Julia O'connell Davidson And Jacqueline Sanchez Taylor. Edited By Jane Pilcher And Stephen Wagg. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Preliminaries......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Tables and Figures......Page 8 1 Introduction: Thatcher’s Children?......Page 9 2 ‘Don’t Try to Understand Them’......Page 16 3 ‘Keeping It in the Family’......Page 38 4 The New Politics of Child Protection......Page 52 5 Back to the Future?......Page 70 6 Gillick and After......Page 86 7 Growing Pains......Page 103 8 The Politics of Child Poverty 1979–1995......Page 123 9 Killing the Age of Innocence......Page 144 10 ‘I’ve Just Seen a Hole in the Reality Barrier!’......Page 166 11 Thatcher’s Working Children......Page 184 12 Child Prostitution and Tourism......Page 214 Notes on Contributors......Page 236 Index......Page 238