Being a child in Morelia: child spatial mobility over the years

Abstract

ABSTRACT The systemic crisis in Latin America, exacerbated by market-driven urban development, has led to heightened social segregation and diminished public spaces for mobility and recreation. In Mexico, childhood is particularly affected, with the last two decades witnessing a decline in children's autonomy within public areas due to escalating violence and militarization. Employing a childhood geography approach, this article examines the gradual reduction in children's spatial mobility across four generations in Morelia, Mexico. It explores key factors influencing mobility: play activities, perceived risks, and the impact of motility, all viewed through a gender lens. The study involves four cohorts of 10-year-olds from different decades, employing qualitative methods like interviews and mental maps. Results reveal the detrimental effects of rapid, fragmented urban growth and increased violence on creating spaces for children. Consequently, interactions have shifted indoors, leading to supervised play in semi-private spaces and a shift from collective, autonomous play to limited social interactions