Construcción de identidad de la niñez en contextos de ruralidad en la comuna de Concepción, Chile

Abstract

(analytical): Studies on new ruralities give us an account of the significant transformations in the rural world and the challenges that living in rural areas have to face. The authors of this study decided to enquire about the construction of meaning that is attributed to childhood in rural communities in the District of Concepcion in southern Chile, delivering a space for the theoretical contemplation of changes in both rural and childhood experiences. These dimensions are not often examined in social research. Through a qualitative methodology -specifically focused on an instrumental case study- the research has the main objective of collecting rural differences and characteristics related to the construction of children’s identity and cultural features. The study analyses children’s experiences and perceptions, describing the cultural patterns, needs, social problems, abilities and strengths that characterize them. One of the main results of the study is the coexistence of traditional rural cultural patterns with urban modernizing elements, tightening everyday reality and the processes of identity construction, calling into question the definition of the theoretical framework used to comprehend rurality. Results shows that boys and girls from rural areas live in worse conditions that those who belong to urban areas. However the research also draws attention to the fact that in a rural context there are aspects that are protective of and strengthen the resilient behavior of children.

Key words: rural communities, childhood, cultural identity (Oecd Macrothesaurus).