Kerry Robinson: Innocence, Knowledge, and the Construction of Childhood: The Contradictory Nature of Sexuality and Censorship in Children’s Contemporary Lives

Abstract

<p>In <i>Innocence, Knowledge, and the Construction of Childhood: The Contradictory Nature of Sexuality and Censorship in Children’s Contemporary Lives</i>, Kerry Robinson (2013) exposes the harm imposed on children through their treatment as innocent beings inherently different from adults. She argues that the adult/child binary, found in modern Western society, justifies the dismissal of children’s experiences and subjects them to extreme and harmful surveillance. Under the guise of childhood innocence, governments are able to maintain social control and social inequality that ensure the production of ‘‘good citizen-subjects.’’ Robinson calls for change in children’s access to knowledge on sexuality and sexual citizenship. Using research that busts the myths and fears held by society regarding competency and sexuality during childhood, Robinson argues that current policies and censorship do more harm than good.</p>