Sociology of Childhood: Theoretical and Methodological Approaches and Discussions in Western Sociology

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of the major paradigms that have influenced the theoretical discussions and empirical research on childhood; defines the main stages of the conceptualization of childhood in the sociological knowledge and formation of "sociology of childhood", its institutionalization in Western sociology; it is underlined that this area of sociology is underdeveloped and needs its institutionalization in Ukrainian sociology, and publication of this paper aims to initiate theoretical debates on conceptualizations of childhood framing these comprehensions into general sociological theory.