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Toward a Culture-Informed Conceptualization of Child Agency in a Context Characterized by Political and Military Violence. A Qualitative Exploration throughout Experts’ Voices

Author

Listed:
  • Guido Veronese

    (University of Milano-Bicocca
    Stellenbosch University)

  • Lorenzo Montali

    (University of Milano-Bicocca)

  • Federica Cavazzoni

    (University of Milano-Bicocca)

  • Daniela Mattiuzzi

    (University of Milano-Bicocca)

Abstract

Our present study sought to qualitative explore the perceptions of experts on the meaning of children agency in a context characterized by ongoing colonial violence and structural racism. Namely, we explored culture and context-specific features of agency, experts’ perceptions about a decolonized definition, and gaps with the mainstream definition of the construct in Western contexts. The study involved 14 participants (N = 8 women), aged between 32 and 70 years with a mean age of 45 years (SD = 9.72) who came from the Gaza Strip, the West Bank (Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron and Jenin) and territories currently part of the State of Israel (Jerusalem and Jaffa). They are all mental health professionals in universities, research centres, hospitals and social welfare services. Secondly, the analysis resulted in a map of five themes representing a culturally oriented Palestinian children’s agency model. A threatening context, alleviating factors, healthy agency, aggravating factors, harmful agency. The Palestinian conceptualization of child agency lies in the multifaceted nature of the construct itself re-declined in a context characterized by multiple levels of complexity- cultural, political, social, economic. Our findings might contribute to creating indicators of Palestinian children’s agentic behaviours and a better operationalization of the construct itself.

Suggested Citation

  • Guido Veronese & Lorenzo Montali & Federica Cavazzoni & Daniela Mattiuzzi, 2022. "Toward a Culture-Informed Conceptualization of Child Agency in a Context Characterized by Political and Military Violence. A Qualitative Exploration throughout Experts’ Voices," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(4), pages 1379-1403, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:15:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s12187-022-09932-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-022-09932-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guido Veronese & Alessandro Pepe & Alaa Jaradah & Feda Murannak & Housam Hamdouna, 2015. "Quality of Life and Determinants of Parents’ School Satisfaction in War Contexts," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(4), pages 21582440156, October.
    2. Otto, Ilona M. & Wiedermann, Marc & Cremades, Roger & Donges, Jonathan F. & Auer, Cornelia & Lucht, Wolfgang, 2020. "Human agency in the Anthropocene," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Roy Gigengack, 2014. "Beyond Discourse and Competence: Science and Subjugated Knowledge in Street Children Studies," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 26(2), pages 264-282, April.
    4. Fayez Azez Mahamid, 2020. "Collective Trauma, Quality of Life and Resilience in Narratives of Third Generation Palestinian Refugee Children," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(6), pages 2181-2204, December.
    5. Tatek Abebe, 2019. "Reconceptualising Children’s Agency as Continuum and Interdependence," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-16, March.
    6. Lisa Bhungalia, 2020. "Laughing at power: Humor, transgression, and the politics of refusal in Palestine," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 38(3), pages 387-404, May.
    7. Barber, Brian K. & Spellings, Carolyn & McNeely, Clea & Page, Paul D. & Giacaman, Rita & Arafat, Cairo & Daher, Mahmoud & El Sarraj, Eyad & Mallouh, Mohammed Abu, 2014. "Politics drives human functioning, dignity, and quality of life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 90-102.
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