Faculty Publications

Children's Perspectives Of The Family: A Phenomenological Inquiry

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Human Studies

Volume

17

Issue

3

First Page

325

Last Page

341

Abstract

As researchers and as adults, caution must be maintained in perpetuating the rational approach to all family experience. Limiting the study of the family to the adult and, more communicatively competent, older siblings creates an artificial barrier that blocks insight into early childhood socialization practices and understandings. This study has raised the notion that children have valuable experiences that they quickly learn, embody, re-produce, and can present to researchers. As family members, they create and perpetuate those practices that reify the patriarchal order. As researchers, the lessons to be learned from such a study are educational. For children, families that "might make your ears pop out" are the social and affectional structure that organizes their lives. The meanings that are produced within this structure are creatively constituted and should be heard. Studying the talk of children about families enriches knowledge and understanding of family relationships and family communication. © 1994 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Department

Department of Communication Studies

Original Publication Date

7-1-1994

DOI of published version

10.1007/BF01322973

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