Introduction

The chapter argues for a deeper engagement with the conceptualization of childhood and children’s experiences. It refutes the existence of universal and uniform childhood and builds an argument in support of multiple constructions of childhood that emanate as a function of sociocultural variations. Nevertheless, the significance of understanding childhood as a structural category has been reiterated. The chapter establishes that by virtue of being in the stage of “childhood”, children share certain common characteristics that typify this life stage. Further, it puts forth that children are social actors capable of constructing and negotiating childhoods for themselves. The chapter concludes by briefly introducing the organization of the book.