Mission Statement
The purpose of the Section on Children and Youth is to encourage the development and dissemination of sociological perspectives on children in the areas of theory, policy, practice, and teaching. Here, the term "children" includes every human being from infancy through the transition to adulthood.
Section History
The section was officially the 31st Section of the American Sociological Association with 300 members at the time of its founding, in August of 1992. Read more about the section history in the special Summer 2009 issue of Child and Youth News, our Section newsletter.
Founding Officers (1992):
Gertrud Lenzer (Chair) Glen H. Elder, Jr.
Peter Adler Doris R. Entwisle
William J. (Beau) Weston Angela Aidala
Sandra L. Hofferth Karen Mundy
Peter Adler Debra Friedman
Harriette Pipes McAdoo Richard Scotch
Elizabeth G. Menaghan Donald J. Hernandez
Donna Lee King Judith D. Auerbach
Julie Gricar Beshers Sue Wright
Maureen Kelleher
Founding Officers (1992):
Gertrud Lenzer (Chair) Glen H. Elder, Jr.
Peter Adler Doris R. Entwisle
William J. (Beau) Weston Angela Aidala
Sandra L. Hofferth Karen Mundy
Peter Adler Debra Friedman
Harriette Pipes McAdoo Richard Scotch
Elizabeth G. Menaghan Donald J. Hernandez
Donna Lee King Judith D. Auerbach
Julie Gricar Beshers Sue Wright
Maureen Kelleher
Why Join the Section on Children and Youth?
The Children and Youth section encourages the development and dissemination of sociological perspectives on children.
The Children & Youth Section offers many benefits, including:
If you do not belong to the ASA, a prerequisite for section membership, we invite you to join both it and our section using an ASA application form. You can also get a membership application form by calling the ASA at (202) 383-9005. See the Membership section for more information.
NOTE: Section Business Meeting notes from 2008 Meeting, available here.
The Children & Youth Section offers many benefits, including:
- Section reception at ASA with youth-minded scholars
- Section sessions (3) and roundtables (8); graduate students are encouraged to attend and present
- At 2008 ASA Conference, sessions include leaders in the field, such as Bill Corsaro, Barrie Thorne, anthropologist Jill Korbin, Robert Drago and more
- Website with leads and information pertaining to research on children and youth
- Section listserv access: Opportunities posted about meetings, jobs, books, and other developments in the field.
- Distinguished Contribution and Student Awards
- A network of colleagues with research interests similar to yours.
If you do not belong to the ASA, a prerequisite for section membership, we invite you to join both it and our section using an ASA application form. You can also get a membership application form by calling the ASA at (202) 383-9005. See the Membership section for more information.
NOTE: Section Business Meeting notes from 2008 Meeting, available here.