Constructions of Childhood in India: Exploring the Personal and Sociocultural Contours

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of figures
List of tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Introduction
	1.1 Childhood as socially constructed
		1.1.1 Social class as a dimension of socially constructed childhood
	1.2 Children as social actors
	1.3 Childhood as a structural category
	1.4 Constructing childhood through generational relations embedded within families
	1.5 About the book and chapter organization
Chapter 2: Dominant constructions of children and childhood
	2.1 Primary associations with “children” and “childhood”
	2.2 Continuity versus discontinuity between childhood and adulthood
		2.2.1 Differences and similarities in being a child and an adult: perceptions of children and adults
			2.2.1.1 “Children are not as mature as adults”
			2.2.1.2 “Children lack adult competence in everyday behaviours vis-à-vis the responsibilities they can shoulder”
			2.2.1.3 Primary tasks and activities undertaken, spaces occupied, and rights and privileges enjoyed by children: perceptions of children
			2.2.1.4 Children's purity of heart as manifested in their social relationships: perceptions of adults
			2.2.1.5 Similarities in childhood and old age
		2.2.2 Transition from childhood to adulthood
	2.3 Perceptions of childhood as a structural category
		2.3.1 Perceptions of children
		2.3.2 Perceptions of adults
	2.4 Rituals and ceremonies related to children
Chapter 3: Constructions of childhood within family processes
	3.1 How childhood unfolds through family processes
	3.2 Nature and level of interaction between children and their parents
		3.2.1 Nature and level of interaction between children and their parents from higher social class families
		3.2.2 Nature and level of interaction between children and their parents from middle social class families
		3.2.3 Nature and level of interaction between children and their parents from lower social class families
	3.3 Children's contributions to household responsibilities
		3.3.1 Attitudes related to children's contribution in household tasks
			3.3.1.1 Parents' perceptions of children's contribution to household chores
			3.3.1.2 Children's perceptions of their own contributions in household chores
	3.4 Nature of dialogue and communication between children and adults
		3.4.1 Nature of information shared by the children with the parents and other adults
		3.4.2 Nature of information not shared by the children with the parents and other adults
		3.4.3 Nature of information shared by children only with their friends
		3.4.4 Issues of telling lies
		3.4.5 How to talk to adults, guests and children?
	3.5 Parental control, supervision and disciplining
	3.6 Issues of conflict and defiance between children and adults
	3.7 Children's agency and control over their own lives
Chapter 4: Constructing childhood through generational relations: Meanings of motherhood, fatherhood and grandparenthood
	4.1 Children's perceptions of their importance in the lives of their parents and grandparents
	4.2 Parents' perceptions of the importance of children in parents' lives and within families
		4.2.1 Meaning of motherhood
		4.2.2 Meaning of fatherhood
	4.3 Grandparenting
		4.3.1 Level of interaction between grandchildren and grandparents
		4.3.2 Meaning of grandparenthood
Chapter 5: Diversity in Indian childhoods: Through the lens of social class 1
	5.1 Childhood of children belonging to lower social class families
		5.1.1 Resources within families and with the children
		5.1.2 Selection of school, education and aspirations for the children
		5.1.3 Rhythms of daily life
	5.2 Childhood of children belonging to middle social class families
		5.2.1 Resources within families and with the children
		5.2.2 Selection of school, education and aspirations for the children
		5.2.3 Rhythms of daily life
	5.3 Childhood of children belonging to higher social class families
		5.3.1 Resources within families and with the children
		5.3.2 Selection of school, education, aspirations for the children
		5.3.3 Rhythms of daily life
	Note
Chapter 6: Childhood: Change and continuity
	6.1 Childhood of parents
	6.2 Childhood of grandparents
	6.3 Changing nature of childhood across generations: a comparison of childhood of children, parents and grandparents
	6.4 Childhood continuity
Chapter 7: Conclusions
	7.1 Dominant constructions of childhood
	7.2 Constructions of childhood within family processes
		7.2.1 Childhood as a unique stage of life
		7.2.2 Primary engagements in childhood
		7.2.3 Childhood-adulthood dichotomy revisited
		7.2.4 Children's position as a social status group
		7.2.5 Children's perspectives, voice and agency
	7.3 Diversity in childhoods
	7.4 Childhood as a structural stage
Appendix A: A note on the methodology
	A.1 Initial scouting task
	A.2 Theme identification
	A.3 Sample of participants in the final research study
	A.4 Approaching the families and rapport formation
	A.5 Tools and techniques
		A.5.1 Thematic interviews for children, parents and grandparents
		A.5.2 Observations based on home visits
		A.5.3 Children's drawings
		A.5.4 Pictures adapted from Indian adaptation of Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study (Children's form) ( 1959)
		A.5.5 Fieldwork diary
	A.6 Data analysis
	A.7 Data presentation
	A.8 Maintaining standards and ethics of research
Appendix B: Pictures adapted from Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study (Children's form) (1959)
References