Researching Grandchildhood from the Perspective of Children in a Brazilian School: Methodological Approaches
Carolina Ramos, Anne
Researching Grandchildhood from the Perspective of Children in a Brazilian School: Methodological Approaches - 2023.
8
While grandparenthood has established itself as a field of research in its own right, grandchildhood is rarely addressed, especially from the point of view of children. Thus, the perspective we often have on the intergenerational relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is both an adult and a generational perspective that looks at only one side of the issue. One of the reasons for the invisibility of children may be related to the challenges researchers face when conducting research with children on so-called sensitive topics such as intergenerational family relationships. In this article, we address this issue using the example of a qualitative study conducted in southern Brazil on children’s perspectives on their relationship with their grandparents in nuclear, single-parent, three-generation, and reconstituted families. We argue the importance of a research design that rearranges differences between adults and children and that uses multi-participatory methods that encourage children’s active engagement in the research. Findings show that grandchildren’s perspectives play a central role in family relationships and challenge the ascribed generational positions of parents and grandparents.
Researching Grandchildhood from the Perspective of Children in a Brazilian School: Methodological Approaches - 2023.
8
While grandparenthood has established itself as a field of research in its own right, grandchildhood is rarely addressed, especially from the point of view of children. Thus, the perspective we often have on the intergenerational relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is both an adult and a generational perspective that looks at only one side of the issue. One of the reasons for the invisibility of children may be related to the challenges researchers face when conducting research with children on so-called sensitive topics such as intergenerational family relationships. In this article, we address this issue using the example of a qualitative study conducted in southern Brazil on children’s perspectives on their relationship with their grandparents in nuclear, single-parent, three-generation, and reconstituted families. We argue the importance of a research design that rearranges differences between adults and children and that uses multi-participatory methods that encourage children’s active engagement in the research. Findings show that grandchildren’s perspectives play a central role in family relationships and challenge the ascribed generational positions of parents and grandparents.
Réseaux sociaux