Critically Evaluate the Usefulness and Limitations of the Concept of Agency in Childhood Studies

Ziyan Zhang

doi:10.47297/wspiedWSP2516-250020.20250908

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Critically Evaluate the Usefulness and Limitations of the Concept of Agency in Childhood Studies

Volume 9, Issue 8

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Critically Evaluate the Usefulness and Limitations of the Concept of Agency in Childhood Studies
Critically Evaluate the Usefulness and Limitations of the Concept of Agency in Childhood Studies
Shaanxi Youth Vocational College, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710100, China
Vol. 9, Issue 8, Pages: 89-92(2025)
Published：31 August 2025
DOI：10.47297/wspiedWSP2516-250020.20250908
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Zhang Ziyan.Critically Evaluate the Usefulness and Limitations of the Concept of Agency in Childhood Studies[J].Journal of International Education and Development,2025,09(08):89-92.
DOI：

Zhang Ziyan.Critically Evaluate the Usefulness and Limitations of the Concept of Agency in Childhood Studies[J].Journal of International Education and Development,2025,09(08):89-92. DOI： 10.47297/wspiedWSP2516-250020.20250908.

摘要

Abstract

Since the emergence of new social studies of childhood in the late 1980s

the definition of children in childhood studies has gradually changed from objects to independent subjects

and children are considered to be agents. Agency is a key term in childhood studies

but it is highly controversial. When researchers focus on the concept of agency in interdisciplinary childhood studies

they need to look for answers from multiple perspectives. Therefore

this article will evaluate the concept of the agency in childhood studies from both the usefulness and the limitations. Firstly

the agency and its concepts in childhood studies will be elaborated. The second is to analyze the usefulness of the concept of agency in childhood studies from the perspective of the right to speak in the social field and the equality between children and adults. Thirdly

the two limitations that children need not be responsible and prevent parents and teachers from effectively managing will be illustrated. The last part will summarize the viewpoints of usefulness and limitations

and put forward the place for further research.

关键词

Keywords

references

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