It's publication week for It's Not Fair
Plus an interview / should preschoolers get to vote? / some lovely events
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It’s publication week!
My new book It’s Not Fair: why it’s time for a grown-up conversation about how adults treat children is officially out this Thursday (on summer solstice no less).
Some of your copies have already arrived early, which feels totally surreal. After working on this book for so many years it’s weird to think it’s finally out there in the world, where it will take on a life of its own through you, its readers.
I wrote It’s Not Fair because I couldn’t see how we could create a fairer, better world without reckoning with how we treat children.
Adultism - the structural oppression of children by adults - is not understood properly or talked about enough, but it's the first form of injustice most of us will experience.
Many of our assumptions and beliefs about children are outdated and offensive - that they are irrational, incompetent, and incapable, and need adult control 'for their own good' - and I wanted to push back against that negative view of childhood, and challenge the assumption that adult power over children is natural and necessary.
I didn't just want to focus on what we're getting wrong though; my focus on how we can pave the way for children's liberation and centre children's rights makes It’s Not Fair a hopeful and practical read.
About the book
Chapter one looks closely at how we see children and the beliefs we hold about them, how social constructions of childhood come to be, and why questioning our collective view of children matters so much.
Chapter two provides a full explanation of adultism, how it shows up in children’s lives and our laws and policies, why adultism must be understood as an important social justice issue, and how moving towards children’s liberation is crucial if we are to make the world a better place for children — and everyone else.
Chapter three provides a brief introduction to children’s rights: what they are, how they came to be agreed upon, practices that go against them, and where these rights don’t go far enough.
Chapter four explores how everyday medical, parenting, and education practices are in fact deeply political, rooted in ideas of how ‘normal’ children behave and develop. Thinking about children’s bodies is especially interesting as they are at once sites of adult control and children’s resistance, and can provide us with concrete examples to consider questions of consent, autonomy, and privacy.
Parenting can be a radical act of hope and change, and chapter five asks what rights-based, liberatory parenting might look like, what challenges stand in the way of a shift away from authoritarian and outdated practices, and what support is needed from wider society to get us all there.
Chapter six explores some of the tensions between feminism and children’s rights under capitalism, and asks how we might fund children’s care in a way that supports all children and their families, whether they are cared for at home or in a dedicated setting.
Chapter seven shows that childhood poverty and the growing inequality between those whose families can afford the basics and those whose families cannot is a deliberate political decision, with devastating consequences for children.
Chapter eight investigates whether the current school system is fit for purpose, and what changes can be made so that it truly reflects children’s needs and lives in a rapidly changing world.
Chapter nine looks at how children’s rights are put at risk by global heating and pollution, and how children all over the world are making their voices heard in the fight for their futures.
Chapter ten explores reasons for giving children the vote, as well as showing that — far from being incapable of political thinking and action — children around the world are already acting in ways which are explicitly political, including organising themselves in children’s parliaments to create meaningful change in their communities and forming coalitions to fight for better pay and working conditions.
Regardless of where you’re currently at in terms of children’s liberation - whether the idea is totally new to you or you’re already deep into children’s rights - there will be something in here to make you think. My biggest dream is that the book will spark conversations, and then action.
I can’t wait to hear what you think.
Listen in on my interview with Talk Radio Europe
I had a really fun chat about It’s Not Fair, I was surprised by how much airtime I was given!
You can listen to our conversation here:
Read my writing in The Metro
I wrote a piece for Metro about why I believe all children should get the vote. Oh boy, the commenters were not happy.
Upcoming events
I have a few events coming up - an online one tonight and three in bookshops - and it would be so nice to see you there!
Please don’t worry about coming alone, book events are always so friendly. There will be plenty of time to ask questions, I will be bringing my fancy child liberation stickers to hand out, and if you come to the London Waterstones event there is a good chance my daughter will draw you a cute yeti picture to take home.
Climate, children’s rights, and children’s liberation
8pm on Monday 17th June @ online with Parents For Future
Book launch! In conversation with
7pm on Wednesday 19th June @ Waterstones Trafalgar Square, London
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An evening of conversation on children’s liberation
6:30pm on Thursday 27th June @ Parade’s End Books, Ham
Book your place here (free)
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Talk and Q&A (in conversation with guest TBA soon)
6:30pm on Tuesday 3rd September @ Topping and Co, Bath
Book your place here (£8 early bird / £5 students)
How can I help you… and can you help me?
If you’d like me to write a guest post for you on the theme of children’s liberation and rights, come chat to you on your podcast, speak to your book club, do a talk for your school inset day (or lead a school assembly!) or anything else then please just get in touch.
I wrote It’s Not Fair because I wanted to start a conversation about how we treat children, but I can’t do that by myself. I need other people to join in!
Please share the book, tell your friends and colleagues and family about it, and preorder a copy (or ask your local library to order it in - or both!)
If you haven’t ordered a copy yet you can get it from all good bookshops. Blackwells currently has it on sale and offers free international delivery. It’s independent bookshop week this week so it’s a great time to buy from your favourite indie retailer!
Normal service will resume on this newsletter later this week. Thank you for your patience.
I’m very aware that I haven’t been posting much while I’ve been navigating book publication - I’ve had sickness after sickness (currently drinking gallons of honey tea to help with my sore throat, such bad timing) and lots of anxiety and sleepless nights, as well as some family stuff happening behind the scenes.
I’ve been so grateful for all of your preorders, shares, and support - they mean a pathetically huge amount to me, and every single one makes all of the work that went into the book worthwhile.
Eloise x x
This is not a book, this is an act of bravery, Eloise. Thank you for raising awareness about such an important subject. Good luck with the launch!
I could not love this post more. Packed full of gems. Recycle this a lot! Keep reminding us! AND HAPPY LAUNCH WEEK.