Showing papers in "Children's Geographies in 2006"
TL;DR: The authors present a succession of key ideas currently arising in and of new and emergent theoretical, philosophical and conceptual work in the Social Sciences, with a mind specifically to children's geography.
Abstract: ‘Children's Geographies’ could do more. In this paper we present a succession of key ideas currently arising in and of new and emergent theoretical, philosophical and conceptual work in the Social Sciences. We invite reflection upon each of these ideas in turn, with a mind, specifically, to ‘Children's Geographies’. In so doing, we make two broad claims. First, that greater engagement with some or all of these ideas might prove useful, enabling, thought-provoking, profound, constructive, challenging, telling, or interesting to ‘Children's Geographers’. Second, that—particularly given the nature of its extant concerns and efforts— ‘Children's Geographies’ could do much more to speak back to (these) wider contemporary lines of thought.
246 citations
TL;DR: This paper argued that children's geographies are complex, mundane, unsettling and thoroughly material-spatial-embodied-evental, and that there is more to children's geography than purely representational or symbolic notions of Growing Up.
Abstract: This paper argues that non-representational theories, relating to materialities, spacings, embodiments and events, are important to children's geographies. In so doing, it suggests in particular that we might engage with the becoming-ness of children's geographies in a number of new ways. This point is made via four (ostensibly banal, everyday) examples: wearing glasses; visiting the local park; being clumsy; and one's first day in school. Through this juxtaposition, the paper insists that children's geographies are and can be complex, mundane, unsettling and thoroughly material-spatial-embodied-evental. In other words, there is more to children's geographies than purely representational or symbolic notions of Growing Up. Rather, it is argued that there is always-already-all-sorts-going-on-…
155 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the arguments for a more substantive focus on teenagers' geographies and make the contribution that geographers can make to challenging negative stereotypes of teenagers within policy and the media.
Abstract: The past decade has been an exciting and productive period in the study of children's and young people's geographies. The principal aim of this paper is to contribute to this field of research by presenting the arguments for a more substantive focus on teenagers' geographies. Firstly, the terms ‘children’ and ‘young people’ are constructed as synonymous and used interchangeably and the complex transitional positioning of young teenagers—situated between childhood, youth and adulthood—has been relatively neglected. Secondly, many researchers have been engaged in developing methods, which aim to challenge unequal power relations between adult researchers and young participants but little focus has been placed on utilizing participants' own constructions of themselves. The final argument for a more coherent focus on teenagers' geographies rests on the contribution that geographers can make to challenging negative stereotypes of teenagers within policy and the media. The paper concludes by outlining ...
107 citations
TL;DR: This paper argued that universal models of childhood must be unpacked in order to reveal the diversity of "other childhoods" in the global south, but argued that local, culturally specific understandings of childhood also need to be theorised and deconstructed.
Abstract: This paper agrees that universal models of childhood must be unpacked in order to reveal the diversity of ‘other childhoods’ in the global south, but argues that local, culturally specific understandings of childhood also need to be theorised and deconstructed. We attempt to do this by exploring experiences that are ‘other’ to ‘other childhoods’ and so examine the ‘un-childlike’ issues of young peoples' sexual health and child household headship in Zimbabwe. We contend that a century of contestation around the social production of identities in and through space has produced local contemporary understandings of childhood that seriously endanger youngsters in an era of HIV/AIDS. We argue both that other dimensions of ‘other childhoods’ must be recognised locally and that local understandings of childhood require greater international recognition if the pandemic is to be tackled. Finally, our exploration of these ‘margins’ of human experience lead us to believe that children must be understood both...
105 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a discussion about definitions of public open spaces is carried out, and contemporary policy related to children, young people and public open space in England are identified, as well as policy areas, drawn from other political drivers, which have an indirect influence on children and young people's use of open spaces.
Abstract: Following a reflection of childhood experiences of public open spaces in daily life the paper moves on to a discussion about definitions of public open space. Contemporary policy related to children, young people and public open space in England are then identified. This context is addressed as policy which directly affects public open space and policy areas, drawn from other political drivers, which have an indirect influence on children and young people's use of public open space. There is some reference to evidence which has fed into some of these policy areas. Teenagers who are skateboarders are used as an example of one group of young people who experience other—legal, social and physical—controls on their use of public open space.
95 citations
TL;DR: In many respects, today's children are more fortunate in many respects than children of previous generations as discussed by the authors, witness the rising numbers who now have access to a bedroom with the characteristics of a mini-bed-sit.
Abstract: Today's children are more fortunate in many respects than children of previous generations. Witness the rising numbers who now have access to a bedroom with the characteristics of a mini-‘bed-sit’;...
84 citations
TL;DR: A special edition emerged from a day-long conference session held at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Colorado, in March 2005 as discussed by the authors, where the special edition was the first one published.
Abstract: This special edition emerged from a day-long conference session held at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Colorado, in March 2005. The special edition, like the confere...
82 citations
TL;DR: This article provided an account of current ideas about English childhood that seem to underpin policies "for" children. But the idea that children are contributors to society is still rarely recognised and they continue to suffer from low social status accordingly.
Abstract: This paper provides an account of current ideas about English childhood that seem to underpin policies ‘for’ children. New Labour values the future adulthood of children more than their childhoods, and stresses children's responsibilities over their rights. Generally, child protection and provision for children has higher status than children's participation. Children are excluded from participation in social life. Traditional psychological formulations remain powerful in their stress on childhood as a preparatory stage of life, where children are socialised into conformity with the norms of social life. However, the last 15 years have seen greater respect for children's own views and experiences, for their rights and for the idea that childhood is socially constructed. But the idea that children are contributors to society is still rarely recognised and they continue to suffer from low social status accordingly.
77 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors considered the photographs taken by year six primary school children of their school and the images they chose to represent themselves, revealing attitudes to school, the importance of playground relationships in the construction of gender, leading to the concept of "borderlands" inhabited by some boys who adopt non-hegemonic masculinities.
Abstract: Photography has been commonly used as a research tool in studies of childhood/children. However images of school children in official documentation are rarely taken or chosen by children and may not reflect their real experiences. This research considered the photographs taken by year six primary school children of their school and the images they chose to represent themselves. Subsequent interviews with children revealed attitudes to school, the importance of playground relationships in the construction of gender, leading to the concept of ‘borderlands’ inhabited by some boys who adopt non-hegemonic masculinities.
74 citations
TL;DR: The authors explored the diverse ways that children and young people negotiate their social identities and construct their life course trajectories on the street, based on ethnographic research with street children in Tanzania.
Abstract: This paper explores the diverse ways that children and young people negotiate their social identities and construct their life course trajectories on the street, based on ethnographic research with street children in Tanzania. Drawing on the concept of a ‘street career’, I show how differences of age, gender and ethnicity intersect with the time spent on the street, to influence young people's livelihood strategies, use of public space, access to services, and adherence to cultural rites of passage. Using the notion of ‘gender performativity’, I analyse how young people actively reconfigure gender norms and the concept of ‘the family’ on the street.
74 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the first results of a case study on the ways in which playgrounds are constructed and experienced in children's daily lives in two medium sized Mediterranean Catalan cities.
Abstract: This paper presents the first results of a case study on the ways in which playgrounds are constructed and experienced in children's daily lives in two medium sized Mediterranean Catalan cities. The research is based on qualitative methodology through participant observation and interviews with institutional actors. Our research suggests that playgrounds are organised around age as the central category; nevertheless, gender is important in the use and activities developed as children get older. Specific aspects from Mediterranean and medium-sized cities are raised such as a positive perception and an intense use of public space by both adults and children. Specific childhood policies in city planning and a stronger gender awareness among institutional actors would improve the social role of playgrounds as participatory, socialising and inclusive spaces.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors highlight the experiential aspects of racialized geographies within schools and, at the same time, grapple with the processes that maintain or challenge the spatial conditions for the construction of whiteness.
Abstract: There is an emerging body of theoretical, historical and design research that examines the ways in which race and cultural identity are understood to be produced and represented in the landscape. Yet, there remains a dearth of research examining both the historic and contemporary effects of race upon the development of school geographies. This paper has two broad purposes. It highlights the experiential aspects of racialized geographies within schools and, at the same time, it grapples with the processes that maintain or challenge the spatial conditions for the construction of whiteness. Drawing upon in-depth case study research this paper highlights the experiences of Aboriginal students and staff at four different schools, with a particular focus on cross-cultural schools, in Manitoba, Canada. What is needed is a concept of landscape that helps point the way to those interventions that can bring about much greater social justice. And what landscape study needs even more is a concept of landscap...
TL;DR: This article explored the identities, affiliations and practices of Somali asylum seeker children, aged 11-18, who were charged with the failed 21st July bombings in London, and argued that the actions of the two bombers need to be framed within a broader understanding of the complex processes of social identification that take place as young people negotiate what it means to be a child in the context of different age, gender and racialised expectations and against a backdrop of discrimination and social exclusion in different relational geographical spaces.
Abstract: Following the 2005 terrorist attacks on London it emerged that two of the terrorists charged with the failed 21st July bombings had arrived in the UK as child asylum seekers from East Africa. In the ensuing debate the bombers were represented as children that turned to hate. In this discussion paper we draw on empirical work conducted in Sheffield, UK to explore the identities, affiliations and practices of Somali asylum seeker children, aged 11–18.1 Specifically, we argue that the actions of the two bombers need to be framed within a broader understanding of the complex processes of social identification that take place as young people negotiate what it means to be a child in the context of different ‘age’, gender and racialised expectations and against a backdrop of discrimination and social exclusion in different relational geographical spaces. We begin by outlining the context of UK immigration policy, before reflecting on dominant constructions of both childhood and asylum seekers. We then d...
TL;DR: The inclusion of disabled children in primary school playgrounds in Yorkshire is investigated with respect to a series of social and organisational issues and the good practice identified relating to these issues.
Abstract: This paper reports some of the findings of research which has investigated the inclusion of disabled children in six primary school playgrounds in Yorkshire, in England. Initially the paper sets the policy context before moving on to discuss the importance of play for children, especially in a primary school setting and particularly for disabled children in such a setting. The inclusion of disabled children is discussed with respect to a series of social and organisational issues and the good practice identified relating to these issues. The social issues include the relationships the disabled children have with their peers and with the staff. The organisational issues relate to the individual routines, moving to a new school, the benefit of staff experience and training, encouraging activity in physical education lessons which can be translated in to the playground and the benefits of extra time outside for some disabled children. All these aspects can influence whether all the children can go o...
TL;DR: This paper examined children's experiences of territory in one location in Northern Ireland and found that children made distinctions between place and territory, and place was referred to in relation to physical features of the surrounding landscape but more importantly as spaces where family and friendship ties were paramount.
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to examine children's experiences of territory in one location in Northern Ireland. The research draws on stories, maps and focus group interviews with 80 children aged between 14–15 years of age, living in one of the most contested interface areas in Northern Ireland. Interface areas are locations where Catholics and Protestants live side by side in segregated communities divided by peace walls and other symbolic boundaries. Within these spaces, children made distinctions between place and territory. Place was referred to in relation to physical features of the surrounding landscape but more importantly as spaces where family and friendship ties were paramount. Territory on the other hand was referred to in terms of Protestant and Catholic identity.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored young people's practices in the virtual spaces of online gaming communities and found that virtuality is no "liberated space" and it incorporates norms and practices that often mirror those of the material world.
Abstract: This article explores young people's practices in the virtual spaces of online gaming communities. Based on a three-year field-study of virtual worlds, it considers how young people construct and maintain identities within virtual social systems. The article discusses the relationship between the material and virtual aspects of young people's leisure. It suggests that the boundaries between these domains are porous. Virtual worlds offer spaces for the imagination and can enhance agency and, potentially, resistance. However, virtuality is no ‘liberated space’ and it incorporates norms and practices that often mirror those of the material world.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present research into intergenerational notions of fashion and identity and use examples drawn from the case study interviews with mother-daughter family groups and the participatory method of draw and write with the daughters to illustrate the influences on young girls' fashion choices in the key spaces of childhood: the home, school and community.
Abstract: This paper presents research into intergenerational notions of fashion and identity. It uses examples drawn from the case study interviews with mother–daughter family groups and the participatory method of draw and write with the daughters to illustrate the influences on young girls' fashion choices in the key spaces of childhood: the home, school and community. The findings reveal that young girls both identify and disidentify with fashions and identities available to them. Their mothers play a key role in allowing and restricting certain outfits in certain spaces, with particular distinction being drawn between public and private space. This paper contributes to children's geographies by focusing on intergenerational relationships between mothers and their daughters in relation to theories of identity formation. In doing so this paper highlights how both intergenerational relationships and the girls' identities are mediated through fashion, consumption, peers and the home, school and community ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue for the uses of children's literature in the study of children' geographies, focusing in particular on the nature of representations of urban space in children' literature, a genre more usually connected with the pastoral and explores the narrative strategies and approaches of children literature which does venture into the city.
Abstract: This paper argues for the uses of children's literature in the study of children's geographies. It focuses in particular on the nature of representations of urban space in children's literature, a genre more usually connected with the pastoral and explores the narrative strategies and approaches of children's literature which does venture into the city. I propose five modes in which the city is written for children and ask, from the position of literary criticism which distrusts children's stories' ability to speak for children, how far these modes can be said to coincide with children's lived experience of the city.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors consider the potential contribution of secondary quantitative analyses of large scale surveys to the investigation of "other" childhoods, which involves investigating the experience of young people who are unequally positioned in relation to multiple, embodied, identity locations, such as (dis)ability, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and race.
Abstract: This paper considers the potential contribution of secondary quantitative analyses of large scale surveys to the investigation of ‘other’ childhoods. Exploring other childhoods involves investigating the experience of young people who are unequally positioned in relation to multiple, embodied, identity locations, such as (dis)ability, ‘class’, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and race. Despite some possible advantages of utilising extensive databases, the paper outlines a number of methodological problems with existing surveys which tend to reinforce adultist and broader hierarchical social relations. It is contended that scholars of children's geographies could overcome some of these problematic aspects of secondary data sources by endeavouring to transform the research relations of large scale surveys. Such endeavours would present new theoretical, ethical and methodological complexities, which are briefly considered.
TL;DR: The authors examined the psychosocial dynamics of bullying as they interrelate with various environments, particularly with respect to their spatial rituals, actions and interactions, and some broad directions for future geographies of bullying are suggested as the basis for future inquiry.
Abstract: Bullying is an internationally pervasive problem that impacts significantly on the behaviour, health and wellbeing of children. Drawing on ideas developed in both the abundant psychology literature, and the landmark study by Percy-Smith and Matthews Tyrannical Spaces (2001), this paper examines the psychosocial dynamics of bullying as they interrelate with various environments. The key groups involved in bullying are considered particularly with respect to their spatial rituals, actions and interactions. In the absence of sustained geographical research in this field, some broad directions for future geographies of bullying are suggested as the basis for future inquiry. Some initial indications are provided as to how these might involve, and connect to, existing disciplinary interests in geographies of exclusion, moral and emotional geographies.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the reality of children's engagement and the validity of the methods used to gather, analyse and present their views should be investigated and that we need to protect children from exploitative or tokenistic processes and differentiate between gathering children's views and involving them as partners in policy formation.
Abstract: Involving children in policy is now popular, a recent UK example being the consultation on Every Child Matters. This can be viewed as progress in increasing children's status as stakeholders in policy formation. However, questions remain about the reality of children's engagement and the validity of the methods used to gather, analyse and present their views. We need to protect children from exploitative or tokenistic processes and differentiate between gathering children's views and involving them as partners in policy formation. The former requires greater rigour of methodology. The latter requires moving from short term policy development to a longer term shared engagement enabling powerful adults and children to think collaboratively.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that theory is, or can be, practical and argue that it can be used for useful, policy-relevant, engaged, applied research, which is the great antithesis of useful and policy relevant, policy relevant and engaged research.
Abstract: It seems that theory is often viewed as the great antithesis of useful, policy-relevant, engaged, applied research. Yet, this viewpoint will argue that theory is, or can be, practical. To some exte...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors have taken great pleasure in being guest editors of this special UK policy edition of Children's Geographies which focuses on some of the themes and issues in current children's policy in the UK.
Abstract: We have taken great pleasure in being guest editors of this special ‘UK policy edition’ of Children's Geographies which focuses on some of the themes and issues in current children's policy in the ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the importance of participation as a progressive word extensively used by social and antimalarayan activists and social scientists, especially among social scientists and development activists.
Abstract: ‘Participation’ is highly fashionable, and it is intensively talked about especially among social scientists and development activists. It is a ‘progressive’ word extensively used by social and ant...
TL;DR: The body of a child's body is not only a site where identity becomes contested, but also a surface or space where we lay claim, a site of vested interest as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: This paper is about the body, specifically a child's body, as a site where identity becomes contested. It is also about a surface or space where we lay claim—a site of vested interest. In April 2004, the Australian Family Court ruled that a 13-year-old child (Alex) had gender identity dysphoria and decided to allow reversible hormonal treatment. The Court ruling produced considerable legal, medical and public reflection over whether these decisions were in Alex's best interests, whether Alex was able to make such a decision at his age, and to assess Alex's competency. These debates also aimed to fix sex and gender through the deployment of a nature and nurture framework. The purpose of this paper, using the example of Alex, is to illustrate the various ways that these claims over a child's body, undermine the possibility for rethinking sex and gender.
TL;DR: The authors highlight the importance of synthesising different kinds of evidence in order for practice, policy and end point research users to have greater confidence in interventions in the lives of children and young people.
Abstract: In a range of settings in health, education, social care, housing and justice, policy makers are urged to make decisions based on research evidence. At present, those seeking sound research evidence to underpin interventions with children and young people will frequently find the evidence cupboard disappointingly bare. This article signposts resources pointing to networks producing research evidence for policy and practice, and discusses drivers and obstacles to the use of research evidence in policy. The authors highlight the importance of synthesising different kinds of evidence in order for practice, policy and end point research users to have greater confidence in interventions in the lives of children and young people.
TL;DR: In this article, a law suit for racial discrimination brought against the School District of Rockford, IL over the last decade and more has meant that recent high school graduates have been educated for almost the whole of their school careers within an environment of conflict.
Abstract: A law suit for racial discrimination brought against the School District of Rockford, IL, over the last decade and more has meant that recent high school graduates have been educated for almost the whole of their school careers within an environment of conflict. The paper outlines the conflict as the context in which the young people have grown up, demonstrating the ways that adults purport to fight for their children, yet transform the issues into their own priorities. It analyses the ‘sensitivity’ and ‘resilience’ of recent high school graduates to such an upbringing. It also explains how the schools are sites where the community conflict is reworked in new ways and perpetuated among the young people. While perhaps an extreme case, Rockford illustrates a continuing, but underplayed, wider social malaise in the USA.
TL;DR: The six papers that follow this introduction form one of two collections to spring from the ‘Emerging Issues in Children's Geographies’ conference held at Brunel University in June 2005 as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The six papers that follow this introduction form one of two collections to spring from the ‘Emerging Issues in Children's Geographies’ conference held at Brunel University in June 2005. (The other...