“o what extent do children’s everyday lives challenge the construction of childhood as a time of innocence? TMA 02 U212 Childhood”

In order to answer and explain to what extent childrens everyday lives challenge the construction of childhood as a time of innocence , I will first explain the definition of innocence and the problems defining it. I will then explain the different approaches to studying childhood innocence and different discourses of childhood innocence. I will then look at historical and contemporary representation/ images of childhood innocence. Finally, I will examine childhood sexuality and eroticization and how this differs with different societies, location, social class and age .

Innocence is a complex notion, full of contradictions and ambiguities that challenge us all. Although innocence remains deeply problematic, children are seen as synonymous  in Western societies. It is often related to its opposites for example; a lack of knowledge, experience or sin. Also, it can be constructed by a…(short extract)