| Popis: |
This dissertation examines the influence of law, policy and education for children ages 8 to 11 who grow up in a context where violence is omnipresent. This research focuses on the daily context of violence, how children and caregivers live with violence, and the factors within the daily context that lead to variations in these experiences. I also explore how caregivers can prevent and mitigate violence. This study answers three research questions: (1) what are Salvadoran’s conceptions of violence and its consequences for children; (2) how do children learn about communal violence within their developmental niche; and (3) what effect does persistent communal violence have on children’s well-being. I used an exploratory, mixed-methods research design, utilizing four methodologies to understand the experience of children ages 8 to 11 and the factors that affect well-being in a context of pervasive violence: (1) participant observations with third- and fourth- graders and their teachers in two public schools in the greater San Salvador metropolitan area; (2) interviews with school educators and professionals who work with children in El Salvador; (3) a policy analysis of a Salvadoran law on the rights and responsibilities of children; and (4) an ethnographic content analysis of three Salvadoran newspapers. A main finding of this research is that the implementation of global rights discourse in the local context affect definitions of children, violence and well-being, leading to varying understandings within Salvadoran society. Through an exploration of persistant violence in children’s everyday context, this study found that the normalization of violence is both a cause and consequence of violence. The government, institutions, and individuals employ prevention and mitigation tactics to manage violence and encourage children’s resilience and well-being. Although these tactics aim to counteract the normalization of violence, mediating factors contribute to the continuation of violence. The findings from this dissertation research contribute to theories in the anthropology of violence, children, childhoods, and Latin America on children’s socialization in a context of violence, the processes of violence and its management, and the role of culture change. |
