• Fattore Tobia

• Fattore Tobia

Concerns with the global burdens of health, environmental sustainability, economic security and management of risks through the welfare state have been strongly linked with population growth and ageing. Yet, what is often overlooked or latent in these discussions are the intergenerational transfers of risks and opportunities between adulthood, childhood and youth, and the consequences of these transfers for current and future generations.

This course examines these issues by canvassing key sociological approaches to childhood and youth in modern societies, with a focus on the professional implications of these issues. The course introduces students to a range of contemporary social theories about childhood and youth; the role that intergenerational relations play in understanding how societies function; critically exploring social constructions of childhood and youth in contemporary societies and considering the implications these have for a range of social policies, social problems, services and professional practices for children, youth and families.

This course also provides students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the varied experiences of children and young people in different parts of the world and how processes of globalisation affect the conditions in which children and young people experience their ‘childhood’ and ‘youth’. In doing so, the course demonstrates how theories on childhood and youth provide important insights into how societies function, and that questions central to theories of childhood and youth are also central to social theory more generally.

Topics to be included are theories of childhood, youth and society; the historical development of childhood and youth; childhoods and globalisation; childhood, youth, social policy and the state; the social functions of education; digital childhoods; and childhood, youth and professional practice. 

Attendance at the Conference ‘Children’s Well-Being: Theoretical, Empirical, and Ethical Challenges’ will be part of this course. This conference will be held at the University of Zurich on November 6-7, 2025. The focus of the conference explores children’s perspectives on well-being in diverse global contexts. Attendance at the Conference provides students with the opportunity to listen to international experts in childhood and youth studies discussing the recent theoretical, methodological and ethical debates in this field of research. Critical reflection of debates arising from the conference will be a focus of the second block seminar.

In this course students will

• Develop a critical understanding of social theories of childhood and youth, and how intergenerational relations are an important feature of societies.
• Analyse the characteristics of childhood and youth and to apply this analysis to understanding a range of social policies, social problems and professional practices.
• Apply a range of research and theoretical perspectives from childhood and youth studies to policy issues and controversies related to childhood and youth.
• Develop an appreciation for the contribution of a range of sociological, political, health, economic, demographic and other perspectives to understanding childhood and youth. Demonstrate an understanding of the key issues involved in undertaking analyses of policies and programs to develop services for children and families.

Evaluation: Written paper

Tagung zu kindlichem Wohbefinden/Converence on Children's Well-Being: 6. - 7.11.2025 in Zürich
Students should attend the conference on friday 7th november and are invited to attend it on 6th november, too.

Am 24./25.10. und am 8.11.2025 findet der Kurs im Zeff-Raum S-01.108 statt.

Dozent: Fattore Tobia

This course will be held in English

To be advised prior to course commencement.