In recent years, public debate about the welfare of children – from the incidence of binge-drinking and obesity amongst young adults in the West, to the prevalence of child abuse and exploitation in developing and developed nations – illustrates the persistence of ideas about the specific nature of childhood. Is it necessary or desirable to unpack these historical constructions? And if so, is this project useful for practitioners and campaigners seeking to defend the rights of young adults and children?

We invite abstracts for papers (200 words max.) related to the broad theme of 'Childhood (Re)Discovered,’ from the disciplinary perspectives of history, literature, sociology, politics, social work and the law.

Deadline for abstracts is December 1, 2007.

Selected papers will be invited to contribute to a special edition of the peer-reviewed journal, Australian Historical Studies, in 2009.

(Re)Discovering Childhood precedes the biennial conference of the Australian Historical Association, 'Locating History,' 7 - 10 July 2008 in Melbourne.