It's Not Fair

Why do some adults think it’s fine to hit children? Why does the school system fail so many pupils? And when their future is on the line, why can’t children vote?

How we treat children isn’t fair. Despite the lip service paid to their rights, children are still discriminated against in every aspect of their lives- rising levels of child poverty, underfunded and outdated education and childcare systems, controlling parenting practices, and political systems that exclude their voices on issues which will affect them most – not least the climate crisis.

Children are not passive victims of oppression, but their resistance and struggle for equality has been largely ignored by the wider social justice movement – until now. In this groundbreaking manifesto, Eloise Rickman argues that it’s time to stop viewing children as less than adults and start fighting for their rights to be taken seriously.

Radical, compassionate, and profoundly hopeful, this powerful new book signals the start of a long-overdue conversation about how we treat children. Featuring practical solutions and the voices of children and adults who are working towards them, It’s Not Fair is a call to embrace children’s liberation and the possibility of a better, fairer world.

‘Thought-provoking, thorough, and passionately argued. Be prepared to have your mind changed – this may well be the most important book you read all year.‘
-Penny Wincer, author of Tender

‘Revolutionary yet compassionate, It’s Not Fair offers a persuasive and paradigm-shifting argument for children’s equality. Rickman’s deep research, forensic examination, and passionate yet practical tone make this an engaging and hopeful book that simultaneously challenges our deeply held views and offers radical new ideas for children’s inclusion in the societies they are soon to inherit. A must-read for parents, educators, activists, and anyone who wishes their voice had been heard as a child.‘
-Rebecca Schiller, author of Earthed

‘This is a book steeped in compassion and humanity. It’s Not Fair offers hope that a kinder, fairer world is possible. I devoured it.’
Caro Giles, author of Twelve Moons a year under a shared sky

Author Biography

Eloise Rickman is a writer and parent educator. Her work focuses on challenging adultism (the discrimination children face), championing rights-based parenting and alternative education, and helping parents and educators rethink how they see and treat children. She is studying for an MA in Children’s Rights at UCL’s Institute of Education and has a degree in Social Anthropology from Cambridge University, where she first became interested in how family practices shape society. Her first book, Extraordinary Parenting, was published in 2020. She lives in London with her husband and daughter.