Brief Description
This book is a collection on abandoned children illustrating the need to contextualise their position in particular cultural situations.
Learn More about the Book
The situation of children abandoned by adults, in foundling homes, sleeping rough in the streets, in refugee camps, and in other circumstances, attracts much political and journalistic attention, but surprisingly little from social scientists. As the editors of this volume point out, there is therefore not enough said about the varieties of experiences summarized as "abandonment." Nor has enough effort been put into studying the perspectives of children themselves on their situation. Situating the discourse on child abandonment in the more general field of debate on children, both historical and ethnographic, this book attempts to show that the presentations of "abandoned" children tend to take for granted ethnocentric ideas about what children can and should do, and about what their relationship should be with adults.
Review Quotes
1. ..."rich, empirically based collection of papers...by providing rich, empirical reporting from a variety of perspectives, this book tells us about much more than "abandonments and orphanhoods," it also challenges us to consider a much broader spectrum of thinking about childhood itself." Anthropolgy & Education Quarterly
2. 'A fine piece of scholarship that should be read by those wishing to improve children's lives.' David Barrett, Children and Society
3. 'I recommend a full and careful reading of this volume to all those interested in research and intervention with children in difficult circumstances.' Jill E. Korbin, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
4. ..."Abandoned Children is an extremely thought-provoking book..." Contemporary Psychology
5. ..."a fascinating collection of papers that is highly recommended for anyone interested in child welfare from both academic and practical perspectives." Critical Sociology
6. .,."Abandoned Children is an extremely thought-provoking book..." Contemporary Psychology
7. .,."a fascinating collection of papers that is highly recommended for anyone interested in child welfare from both academic and practical perspectives." Critical Sociology
8. ."..a fascinating collection of papers that is highly recommended for anyone interested in child welfare from both academic and practical perspectives." Critical Sociology
9. ."..Abandoned Children is an extremely thought-provoking book..." Contemporary Psychology
10. ..".a fascinating collection of papers that is highly recommended for anyone interested in child welfare from both academic and practical perspectives." Critical Sociology
11. ..".Abandoned Children is an extremely thought-provoking book..." Contemporary Psychology
