Childhood and Medical Humanities (Research Group, Durham University, 4 June 2015)

Research Summary: Childhood and Medical Humanities

Event Type: Postgraduate/Early Career Researcher Discussion Group

Institution: Durham Centre for Medical Humanities, Durham University

Date & Time: 4 June 2015, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Location: Horsfall Room, St. Chad's College

Primary Theme: Childhood as a socially constructed phenomenon and its implications for medical practice and humanities scholarship.

Key Topics Addressed: Paediatric medicine development, medicalization of puberty and growth, child illness impacts, parenting, children's institutions, and differential treatment protocols for children versus adults.

Historical Context: Childhood concept emerged in 17th-18th centuries through John Locke's educational philosophy and children's literature development.

Research Focus: Examination of childhood's special status in Western medical practice and societal health concerns through medical humanities interdisciplinary lens.

Participation: Open to new members; volunteers invited for 5-8 minute informal research presentations on relevant aspects of childhood and medical humanities.

Durham Centre for Medical Humanities / Wolfson Post-Graduate & Early Career Research Network
2 pm – 3:30 pm | Horsfall Room, St. Chad’s College

The next meeting of the CMH postgraduate / early career medical humanities Network will take place on 4^th June 2015. The meeting is a discussion/reading group and will explore the theme of Childhood and Medical Humanities.

Childhood is commonly defined as the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. It is argued that childhood is not a natural phenomenon but, instead, a creation of society. The concept of childhood emerged during the 17^th and 18^th centuries, particularly through the educational theories of the philosopher John Locke and the emergence of a literature for and about children. In the present day, childhood has a special status in Western societies and this is reflected within the practice of medicine and within societal concerns about health and wellbeing for children.

This meeting of the Medical Humanities postgrad/ECR discussion group will examine some of the various aspects of childhood within the medical humanities and related disciplines. Topics may include but are not limited to: childhood illness and health, development, growth, parenting, children’s institutions, twins and siblings, adolescence, puberty and paediatric medicine, for example.

Indicative questions may include, but are by no means limited to:
Do children have special status within medical practice?
How has paediatric medicine developed as a distinct discipline?
What is the effect of childhood illness or disease?
Have aspects of puberty, growth and development become medicalized?
How should the medical treatment of children differ from that of adults?

Once again, we are looking for one or two volunteers to provide an informal opening presentation on an aspect of their research which speaks to the theme of this session (5-8 minutes). Please email Luna Dolezal if you are interested in presenting, and also to register your attendance for purposes of cake and tea. We look forward to seeing you in June – new members are always welcome!