Children and Globalization

Globalization is affecting children in many areas of the world and images of child exploitation have become powerful media representations. But, children have rarely been part of the discussion of globalization. In an effort to bring the consideration of children into the center of our discussions, American historian Paula S. Fass suggests that the American experience of immigration may provide important ways to begin this discussion. She focuses on three areas—work, play, and sexuality—and argues that our understanding of how globalization is likely to affect the world's children and how their various cultures are likely to react can be glimpsed by examining the negotiations and contentions over these issues in the American past. Since we today look at the world from the vantage point and the sensibilities that came only through difficult conflicts about children and the meaning of childhood, unpacking those experiences will help us to better understand how other cultures are likely to react as their children become part of the forces altering the world everywhere today.