Childhood and Negative Phenomena Spread in Light of Societal Changes

Abstract

The challenges facing children in the present era are among the problems that concern state institutions in our Arab societies and our Iraqi society, due to their multiple societal dimensions that cause harm to the child's personal development and the social environment of the community. Childhood is the cornerstone of any society, and it is the foundation for building a person's character. This undoubtedly depends on the individual's compatibility with the stage they are going through, whether it is childhood, adolescence, or youth. In light of this, sociologists and mental health experts have recognized the importance of the problems faced by children, such as bullying, sexual harassment, violence, cyberbullying, begging, hazardous child labor, and more. With this understanding, our research focuses on the reality of childhood in our Iraqi society, which suffers from the spread of negative phenomena that require the concerted efforts of parents, educational institutions, and state institutions to address them.

The research consists of two chapters, comprising four sections. The first chapter discusses the general framework of the research, which includes two sections. The first section covers the research elements, including the research problem, its significance, and objectives. The second section focuses on the research methodology and defining the terms. The second chapter covers two sections. The first section addresses societal variables, while the second section highlights the most significant negative phenomena and their implications.