Hardback
Children's Lives in Southern Europe
Contemporary Challenges and Risks
9781789901238 Edward Elgar Publishing
This interdisciplinary book provides a sociological view of the contemporary experiences of children in Southern Europe. Focusing on regions deeply affected by the 2008 economic crisis, it offers a detailed investigation into the impact of economic downturn and austerity on the lives of children.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
This interdisciplinary book provides a sociological view of the contemporary experiences of children in Southern Europe. Focusing on regions deeply affected by the 2008 economic crisis, it offers a detailed investigation into the impact of economic downturn and austerity on the lives of children.
Established childhood studies and sociology researchers unpack recent changes in the quality of children’s lives and our understanding of children’s rights in the modern world. Focusing first on contemporary changes to children’s forms of living, the book then turns to the prevalence of poverty in Southern Europe, before scrutinising the experiences of migrant and highly mobile children. Illustrating these experiences with key case studies from across Southern Europe, this book presents a powerful critique of the promises and pitfalls of structural changes to children-centred public policy.
This informative book is essential reading for academics and higher-level students of childhood studies. Policy makers and practitioners in education, law, health, social services and children’s rights organizations in need of strong, empirical research into childhood experiences will appreciate the thorough case studies analysed in the book.
Established childhood studies and sociology researchers unpack recent changes in the quality of children’s lives and our understanding of children’s rights in the modern world. Focusing first on contemporary changes to children’s forms of living, the book then turns to the prevalence of poverty in Southern Europe, before scrutinising the experiences of migrant and highly mobile children. Illustrating these experiences with key case studies from across Southern Europe, this book presents a powerful critique of the promises and pitfalls of structural changes to children-centred public policy.
This informative book is essential reading for academics and higher-level students of childhood studies. Policy makers and practitioners in education, law, health, social services and children’s rights organizations in need of strong, empirical research into childhood experiences will appreciate the thorough case studies analysed in the book.
Critical Acclaim
‘Children''s Lives in Southern Europe is an insightful, well-written, and timely volume focusing on a neglected but radically changing region of Europe. The diverse chapters provide comprehensive discussion of children’s lives and agency at the macro and micro level with important insights for social policy. A ground-breaking work in childhood studies.’
– William A. Corsaro, Author of The Sociology of Childhood and We’re Friends, Right?: Inside Kids’ Culture
‘This book offers an essential contribution to understanding the challenges faced by children in Southern Europe through the years of “austerity” and the “refugee crisis”. The four editors combine a deep understanding of their own countries with a powerful theoretical orientation to taking children seriously as social actors and as citizens. The combination of detailed contextual information with vivid case studies is a real strength. For anyone with an interest in the reality of childhood, and the prospects for children’s lives, in Southern Europe this will be an invaluable source of information and ideas.’
– Nigel Patrick Thomas, University of Central Lancashire, UK
‘This book presents a rich and stimulating collection of contributions on a neglected focus in the English speaking world. The chapters provide a fresh and rewarding exploration of children’s lives in Southern Europe; especially children’s well-being, experiences of migration and poverty. The book draws on theory, primary and secondary data and will be an invaluable resource for students wishing to understand childhood in the Mediterranean arena.’
– Tom Cockburn, Edge Hill University, UK
‘This book, with its focus on four Southern European countries, is an important addition to research literature on childhood. The authors’ aim to come to terms with the inevitable impact on childhood of economic recession, poverty, migration and other shared structures is very enlightening. The display of an array of methodological approaches is of great interest and the way it makes sense of a macro-orientation without losing sight of children’s agency is highly instructive. The book is most welcome and vastly recommended.’
– Jens Qvortrup, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
– William A. Corsaro, Author of The Sociology of Childhood and We’re Friends, Right?: Inside Kids’ Culture
‘This book offers an essential contribution to understanding the challenges faced by children in Southern Europe through the years of “austerity” and the “refugee crisis”. The four editors combine a deep understanding of their own countries with a powerful theoretical orientation to taking children seriously as social actors and as citizens. The combination of detailed contextual information with vivid case studies is a real strength. For anyone with an interest in the reality of childhood, and the prospects for children’s lives, in Southern Europe this will be an invaluable source of information and ideas.’
– Nigel Patrick Thomas, University of Central Lancashire, UK
‘This book presents a rich and stimulating collection of contributions on a neglected focus in the English speaking world. The chapters provide a fresh and rewarding exploration of children’s lives in Southern Europe; especially children’s well-being, experiences of migration and poverty. The book draws on theory, primary and secondary data and will be an invaluable resource for students wishing to understand childhood in the Mediterranean arena.’
– Tom Cockburn, Edge Hill University, UK
‘This book, with its focus on four Southern European countries, is an important addition to research literature on childhood. The authors’ aim to come to terms with the inevitable impact on childhood of economic recession, poverty, migration and other shared structures is very enlightening. The display of an array of methodological approaches is of great interest and the way it makes sense of a macro-orientation without losing sight of children’s agency is highly instructive. The book is most welcome and vastly recommended.’
– Jens Qvortrup, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Contributors
Contributors: G. Argento, R. Barn, E. Brey, R.T. Di Rosa, M. Domínguez-Serrano, N. Fernándes, L. Gaitán, A. Kiliari, F. Kougioumoutzaki, S. Mateus, L. del Moral-Espín, A. Nunes de Almeida, S. Pantazidis, Y. Pechtelidis, V. Ramos, M. Sánchez-Domínguez, M.J. Sarmento, C. Satta, T. Seabra, A.G. Stamou, M.T. Tagliaventi, C. Tomás, G. de Pina Trevisan
Contents
Contents:
Foreword: childhood and social exclusion – a sociology of the south? xiii
Manuel Jacinto Sarmento
1 Introduction 1
Lourdes Gaitán
PART I CURRENT CHANGES IN CHILDREN’S
FORMS OF LIVING
2 Introduction to Part I 11
Catarina Tomás
3 Family and childhood: the impact of the crisis in the case
of Greece 14
Foteini Kougioumoutzaki
4 Institutionalization and familization of childhood through
leisure/sport activities in Italy 30
Caterina Satta
5 Changes to children’s forms of living in contemporary Portugal 47
Ana Nunes de Almeida and Vasco Ramos
6 Intergenerational solidarity in times of crisis: new
relationships between children and grandparents in Spain 62
Lourdes Gaitán and María Sánchez-Domínguez
PART II CHILD POVERTY AND CHILDREN’S
WELL-BEING IN SOUTHERN EUROPE
7 Introduction to Part II 84
Natália Fernandes
8 Poverty, well-being and educational opportunities for
children in contemporary Greece: the cases of two
after-school programmes 88
Yannis Pechtelidis and Stelios Pantazidis
9 Poorest of all: a case study of Roma children in Italy 104
Maria Teresa Tagliaventi
10 Child poverty in Portugal: the crisis from children’s perspectives 121
Manuel Jacinto Sarmento and Gabriela de Pina Trevisan
11 Austerity and children’s well-being in Spain: a capability
approach perspective 141
Lucía del Moral-Espín and Mónica Domínguez-Serrano
PART III MIGRANT CHILDREN AND CHILDREN ON THE MOVE
12 Introduction to Part III 161
Yannis Pechtelidis
13 Language education policy discourses on refugee
children: evidence from the Greek context 164
Anastasia G. Stamou and Angeliki Kiliari
14 Unaccompanied minors in Sicily: promoting
conceptualizations of child well-being through children’s
own subjective realities 181
Ravinder Barn, Roberta T. Di Rosa and Gabriella Argento
15 Migrant children in Portuguese schools: the case of
Brazilian pupils 196
Teresa Seabra and Sandra Mateus
16 Migrant children and local policies regarding reunified
children in Spain 213
Elisa Brey
PART IV CONCLUSIONS
17 Conclusions 232
Lourdes Gaitán, Yannis Pechtelidis, Catarina Tomás
and Natália Fernandes
Index 237
Foreword: childhood and social exclusion – a sociology of the south? xiii
Manuel Jacinto Sarmento
1 Introduction 1
Lourdes Gaitán
PART I CURRENT CHANGES IN CHILDREN’S
FORMS OF LIVING
2 Introduction to Part I 11
Catarina Tomás
3 Family and childhood: the impact of the crisis in the case
of Greece 14
Foteini Kougioumoutzaki
4 Institutionalization and familization of childhood through
leisure/sport activities in Italy 30
Caterina Satta
5 Changes to children’s forms of living in contemporary Portugal 47
Ana Nunes de Almeida and Vasco Ramos
6 Intergenerational solidarity in times of crisis: new
relationships between children and grandparents in Spain 62
Lourdes Gaitán and María Sánchez-Domínguez
PART II CHILD POVERTY AND CHILDREN’S
WELL-BEING IN SOUTHERN EUROPE
7 Introduction to Part II 84
Natália Fernandes
8 Poverty, well-being and educational opportunities for
children in contemporary Greece: the cases of two
after-school programmes 88
Yannis Pechtelidis and Stelios Pantazidis
9 Poorest of all: a case study of Roma children in Italy 104
Maria Teresa Tagliaventi
10 Child poverty in Portugal: the crisis from children’s perspectives 121
Manuel Jacinto Sarmento and Gabriela de Pina Trevisan
11 Austerity and children’s well-being in Spain: a capability
approach perspective 141
Lucía del Moral-Espín and Mónica Domínguez-Serrano
PART III MIGRANT CHILDREN AND CHILDREN ON THE MOVE
12 Introduction to Part III 161
Yannis Pechtelidis
13 Language education policy discourses on refugee
children: evidence from the Greek context 164
Anastasia G. Stamou and Angeliki Kiliari
14 Unaccompanied minors in Sicily: promoting
conceptualizations of child well-being through children’s
own subjective realities 181
Ravinder Barn, Roberta T. Di Rosa and Gabriella Argento
15 Migrant children in Portuguese schools: the case of
Brazilian pupils 196
Teresa Seabra and Sandra Mateus
16 Migrant children and local policies regarding reunified
children in Spain 213
Elisa Brey
PART IV CONCLUSIONS
17 Conclusions 232
Lourdes Gaitán, Yannis Pechtelidis, Catarina Tomás
and Natália Fernandes
Index 237
