Material as actor in the enactment of social norms: Engaging with a sociomaterial perspective in childhood studies to avoid the ‘traps of closure’

This article employs a sociomaterial perspective and explores how material artefacts take part in the enactment of social norms by analysing empirical examples from two different childhood studies projects in Norway. Drawing on interview data with tweens, (children aged 8–12), and observational data...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Children & society 2021-09, Vol.35 (5), p.694-707
Main Authors: Sørenssen, Ingvild Kvale, Franck, Karianne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
actor‐network theory
assemblage
Childhood
childhood studies
Children
Closure
Early childhood education
ECEC
Enactment
Social norms
tweens
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Summary:This article employs a sociomaterial perspective and explores how material artefacts take part in the enactment of social norms by analysing empirical examples from two different childhood studies projects in Norway. Drawing on interview data with tweens, (children aged 8–12), and observational data from an early education and care institution (ECEC), we argue that material, in this case toys and makeup, make a difference in the enactment of social norms in children's everyday lives. Our aim is to demonstrate the malleability of a sociomaterial perspective and show how this can lead to new insights and open childhood studies as a field.
ISSN:0951-0605
1099-0860
DOI:10.1111/chso.12438