Pure as the angels, wise as the dead: Perceptions of infants' agency in a Zambian community. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smørholm, Sesilie
• Other Names: Abebe Tatek guest-editor.; Ofosu-Kusi Yaw guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Childhood. Volume 23:Number 3(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 348
• Page End: 361
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Agency -- infancy -- personhood -- spirituality -- vulnerability -- Zambia; Children -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Children -- Research -- Periodicals; 305.23
• DOI: 10.1177/0907568216644032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0907-5682

Abstract

This article is focused on concepts of agency in relation to unborn and newly born babies in a Zambian community. Through an exploration of local perceptions of unborn and newly born babies' spirituality and personhood, as well as their developing bodies, I problematize dominating theoretical definitions of children's agency. The article calls for more relational assessments of children's agencies that not only focus on children as independent social actors in their own right but also integrate experiences of dependency and vulnerability.