Rethinking Gender and Sexuality in Childhood explores gender and sexuality in children's lives, from early childhood through adolescence, bringing together key inter-disciplinary perspectives. Kane explores how childhood gender and sexuality are constructed, resisted, and refined within children's peer cultures, within social institutions like the family, education, and media and the role the state holds in structuring children's lives - defining their rights and opportunities through gender and sexuality-related policies and programs. Examples of research, interviews, activities, key points and guidance on further reading encourage the reader to actively engage with the material and to develop a critical relationship with the content. Rethinking Gender and Sexuality in Childhood is essential for those studying childhood at undergraduate and graduate level and of great interest to those working with children in any field.

Author Biography

Emily W. Kane is Professor of Sociology and a member of the Program in Women and Gender Studies at Bates College, USA.