The Anthropology of Childhood and the Family

3 Units

This course explores childhood, youth, and family life through an anthropological and cross-cultural lens. Drawing on ethnographic research, films, and case studies from diverse global contexts, students examine how culture, social inequality, and political and economic forces shape parenting, socialization, adolescence, and human development. Topics include play and learning, gender and race in childhood, family struggle and care, migration and youth, child labor, and youth activism. The course challenges universal assumptions about childhood while highlighting both cultural variation and shared human experiences. Recommended preparation: ANTH 102 . Offered as ANTH 306 and ANTH 406 . Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.