Abstract

MONTANDON, Cleópâtre  and  LONGCHAMP, Philippe. Did you say autonomy? A brief perception of the experience of children. Perspectiva [online]. 2007, vol.25, n.01, pp.105-126. ISSN 0102-5473.

The reflection about autonomy has a long history, as does a reflection about the development of the autonomy of children. Some think that children today have become more autonomous or even that their autonomy is being favored as they have been granted new rights. Others, to the contrary, think that the life of children is more controlled and institutionalized and that although they have gained protection and rights, they have lost responsibilities and freedom of action. This text presents the results of a study conducted among children from 11- 12 years old who live in Geneva. Our goal was to examine their distinct experience with autonomy, as well as the social conditions that sustain it, principally in the family, school and social environment. Inscribed in the field of childhood sociology, the study offers a clarification of the representations of these children about autonomy and about their strategies to achieve it, considering the social reality in which they are inserted.

Keywords : Infancy Sociology; Children Autonomy; Children Social Features.

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