Summary

Childhood in Consumer Societies examines the life-worlds of older children in Western capitalist countries. It considers both their socio-political context and the way this is experienced by them. The text takes a psychosocial approach to exploring how consumerism impacts on children's identities, relationships with family and friends, mental and physical health and their dreams and desires. It draws on both the current literature available and original psychosocial research with children undergoing the identity shifts involved in moving from primary to secondary school.