Different shades of racism: Young children's construction of differences between people and their social relations in an Australian context

Authors

Anna Targowska, Edith Cowan University

Document Type

Book

Publisher

VDM Verlag Dr. Muller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG

Place of Publication

Saarbrucken

Faculty

Faculty of Computing, Health and Science

School

School of Psychology and Social Science

RAS ID

5932

Comments

Targowska, A. (2008). Different shades of racism : Young children's construction of differences between people and their social relations in an Australian context. Saarbrucken: VDM Verlag Dr. Muller Aktiengesellschaft & KG.

ISBN 9783639063301

Abstract

It is commonly believed that children are naive and ‘colour blind’. However, research demonstrates that children not only notice differences in skin colour and facial features, but they also start making value judgements about these characteristics from an early age. Drawing on the data from semi- structured face to face interviews with three, five and seven year old participants, this book explores children’s racialisation of difference within a framework of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory. This book makes an important contribution to our understanding of how children’s racist assumptions are formed. It demonstrates that children’s awareness of ‘racial’ differences does not correspond with their own attitudes and preferences. It argues that from an early age children are active in making sense of their social experiences and often struggle in their attempts to reconcile the multiple racialised discourses to which they are exposed. The book will be of interest to anyone who interacts with young children, especially parents, educators, child care workers, as well as academics and policy makers within the field of education and care.