Children and Young People as Moral and Legal Actors. Findings from Studies Conducted in Northern Italy

The new sociology of childhood considers children to be subjects that actively participate in social life (Prout and James 1990). Are children moral and legal actors too? Children in their everyday interactions are continuously faced with issues of justice and fairness as well as with situations that carry moral implications; but adults tend not to recognize them as moral actors (Damon 1981; Matthews 1994; Mayall 2004). The findings of three social surveys on legal and normative socialization conducted in North Italy confirm that young people possess reasoning skills to face even complex justice, legal and moral issues.