Global Changes in Children's Lives

This Element compares the nature of childhood in four representative societies differing in their subsistence activities: bands of Australian hunter-gatherers Tibetan nomadic pastoralists peasants and farmers residing in Maya villages and towns and South Korean students growing up in a digital information society. In addition the Element traces a variety of intertwined global changes that have led to sharply reduced child mortality rates shrinking family sizes contested gender roles increased marriage ages long-term enrollment of children (especially girls in educational institutions) and the formation of ''glocal'' identities.