Unlearning the child: An ontological politics outlook

Abstract

This article examines how we as researchers in a constantly changing world can challenge ourselves by ‘unlearning’ what we know, and perhaps take for granted, about children. What happens, for example, to the notion of the child in a world of transformation? To address these questions, I argue that we need to explore the act of unlearning both imagined and ‘real’ children. The act of unlearning encourages confusion, uncertainty, courage, and changes of mind as a way of learning anew. Through explorations of empirical examples from research with and about children, issues such as the no-where child, the now-here child, agency, numerical age, vulnerability, and competence are discussed. The analyses do not offer a coherent alternative. The purpose is rather to shake things up and create openings and possibilities.