The social constructionism
approach argues that knowledge is
socially produced through discourse.
Meaning not just the words that we use
in the interactions that we have, but also
the social practices that construct the
world around
Concepts such as 'race', gender and childhood
can all be seen as socially constructed through
language and social processes; consequently
they can be reproduced, challenged and/or
changed.
Social construcionism theories allow
us to see the world as a complex
interaction between many layers of the
environment and individual children and
young people
Knowledge is produced through discourse
where the activities of many different people taken
into account such as, children, young people,
families and practitioners. The wider socio-cultural
discourses found in everyday media and policy
agendas are all implicated in the co-construction of
knowledge
Discourse varies across time and
space so ideas about childhood and
youth children and young people cannot
be seen to be fixed but subject to
change
Social constructionism and social ecological theory allow us
to see the world as a complex interaction between many
layers of the environment and individual children and young
people. So ideas about childhood and youth, children and
young people can be seen not to be fixed but subject to
change. Equally importantly, a social constructionist
perspective uncovers ways in which individuals and groups
draw upon constructed social realities.
What colour does ‘natural’ or ‘skin tone’ refer to when applied to objects
such as sticking plasters or hosiery? The question that can be asked is,
‘Whose skin tone is represented here as natural?’. This illustrates that the
words we use are part of the way in which we construct the world in terms
of social categories such as skin colour. It is not just the words that we
speak that create a particular view of the world – the words themselves are
part of social practices that position people in society based in categories
such as gender and ethnicity.
A key issue for us when thinking about children and young people is
that there are many ways in which a child or young person can be
understood. Children and young people can be seen as a source of
anxiety and fear or could be viewed as at risk and in need of
protection, and sometimes both, simultaneously.
Construction of children and young people as dangerous and out of
control is very much in evident in the British media, the construction of
children and young people as being in need of help and protection is also
very powerfully present.
This construction of children is a powerful one, as
many of us feel very strongly when we see images of
children and young people in positions of
vulnerability
Ideas about children, young people and parents have
changed through time as a result of many factors such as
legislation and policy, prevailing societal values and
societal expectations of men and women, children and
adults. All these issues affect the environment in which
work with children and young people takes place.