Papers by francesca zanatta
Are we really doomed? Critical pathways for advancing children’s rights through theory and practice
This chapter presents the argument that two factors are particularly obstructive to the flourishi... more This chapter presents the argument that two factors are particularly obstructive to the flourishing of a more unified and integrated modus operandi for both practitioners and researchers working in the field of children’s rights. First and foremost, I will argue that the limited synchrony in the historical development of theory and practice, with regards to children’s rights, has impacted and limited the opportunities for a meaningful collaboration between practitioners, activists and academics (Leonard, 2016). I will then discuss how the interpretation of children’s rights as a tool to ensure protection, rather than to promote autonomy (Woodhead, 1994), weakens the rights based approach and deprives the concept of right of its essence (Biggeri and Karkara, 2014). In my conclusions, I will argue that the lack of critical revision of theories of childhood is the overarching issue to the advancement of children’s rights.
Book Review ‘Children out of Place’ and Human Rights. In memory of Judith Ennew
ephemera journal, 2019
How to live feminism within academia? What are the tools required to enable this process? With th... more How to live feminism within academia? What are the tools required to enable this process? With these questions in mind, and with our experiences as researchers, activists and friends, we participated in the two-day workshop ‘Feminism, Activism and Writing!’ (FAW!). Whilst conferences are often dialogic spaces replicating patriarchal dynamics of power, we experienced the FAW! workshop as a space that challenged patriarchal regimes, encouraged, and enabled scholarly encounters through feminist practices. In this collaborative piece, composed as a collective rather than as individuals, we offer an overview of our reflections developed during and after the workshop. In particular, we focus on three areas informed by the themes explored in the workshop: the concepts of affect, solidarity and the politics of care in academia, the positioning of scholars as feminists, and the issue of precarity in academia. In our reflections, we argue that these three areas ought not to be explored nor dealt with separately, as intertwined and informed by the neoliberal, patriarchal practices. We therefore suggest these areas as starting points for a radical transformation of academia, through the lenses and practices of feminism. Through the learning(s) of the FAW! workshop, we call for a radical reconsideration of all forms of collective solidarity, based on the acceptance and celebration of affective-relational practices developed to cope with the challenges of precarity, and requiring the acknowledgement of the value of both positions, as scholars and activists.
A complex delight. The secularization of the breast, 1350–1750, by Margaret R. Miles
Anthropology & Medicine, 2009
Narcotic culture. A history of drugs in China, by Frank Dikötter, Lars Laamann and Zhou Xun
Anthropology & Medicine, 2009
The research in children’s mental health and religion is a developing field. Most of the studies ... more The research in children’s mental health and religion is a developing field. Most of the studies examine the religious developmental process either from a psychological, or from a religious point of view. The purpose of this research is to combine these two areas in order to understand more comprehensively the relationship between the child and God. The results are personal insights of this relationship, here conceived as determined by the encounter of inner and external forces and dynamics. Six common themes have been identified through the systematic analysis of the interviews and can be considered as shared features in the various personal relationships. The most interesting findings, obtained from the analysis of these themes, are related to child-God communication, defined by a child as the “magic action process”, an interaction activated by the child when asking for God’s help. As described in Elkind’s work (1970), in children’s hands the image of God becomes a tool used to solve problematic situations; this paper aims to analyse this interaction and its effects on the child’s life. Finally, the findings can also be interpreted as material to critically analyse psychologically informed theories on religious development in children.
Talks by francesca zanatta
Fluctuant Attachment in Caribbean Families in London
Background
Understanding the cultural differences shaping family dynamic is essential to avoid mi... more Background
Understanding the cultural differences shaping family dynamic is essential to avoid misunderstandings, prejudice and erroneous judgments. The Caribbean community is an example of how misconceptions can become labels hard to remove: Caribbean families still appear to be amongst the most criticized in British society. Media, welfare policies and studies depict the black family as a model to avoid, undeserving, and even pathological. Some researchers claimed that such family structure has instigated even specific facts, from the 1981 Brixton Riots to the recent events connected with the 2011 London riots.
Method
In the first section the paper introduces common themes gathered both from existing literature and interviews with practitioners working with Caribbean families. Subsequently the authors present a response to the investigation of such criticisms through the analysis of the data collected throughout two years of ethnographic fieldwork within the Caribbean community in South London. Attachment theory has been identified and employed as the tool for understanding and comparing patterns of mother-child relationship, as well as family dynamics.
Results
Several common themes emerged from the analysis of the data collected: unbalanced family structure, in which the figure of the mother dominates and the figure of the father is frequently absent, male/female interaction, expression of emotions, and patterns of communication. The comparison of fieldwork data with existing patterns of attachment evinced gaps in the theory and the need for a new attachment pattern, fluctuant, specific to the studied population. A series of vignettes is presented in support to the formulation of such pattern.
Conclusions
The analysis of the concept of fluctuant attachment and of its impact on family dynamic and child development provides a new perspective and possible approaches for practitioners working with Caribbean families.
Castigos: consequences of the punishments perpetuated by a mother and by the state
Physical punishment is now widely recognized as a violation of children rights and as unacceptabl... more Physical punishment is now widely recognized as a violation of children rights and as unacceptable behavior.
However, this paper will examine a much less considered side of the story. In fact, it will focus on the effects of misinformed and inaccurate evaluation and punishment of child abuse, a possible threat for both parents and children.
Starting from the illustration of an unfortunate case study of a Latin American family living in London, developed throughout a year of regular observations, the paper will present the consequences of the social services’ intervention on the various members of the family.
The analysis of the case will be developed through an overview of the British juridical and socio-cultural context of child abuse and through the discussions developed in various focus groups with mothers from different cultural backgrounds. This discussion will highlight how misconceptions, poor understanding and lack of communication can turn a safeguarding intervention into a possible disruptive intervention for a family.
A further analysis of the results obtained through focus groups with Latin American parents and British practitioners will delineate possible strategies to avoid the repetition of such a controversial and negative situation.
Book chapters by francesca zanatta
London: Karnac/Routledge., 2019
In Littlewood, R. and Ababio, B. (eds) Intercultural Therapy 2nd Volume.
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Papers by francesca zanatta
Talks by francesca zanatta
Understanding the cultural differences shaping family dynamic is essential to avoid misunderstandings, prejudice and erroneous judgments. The Caribbean community is an example of how misconceptions can become labels hard to remove: Caribbean families still appear to be amongst the most criticized in British society. Media, welfare policies and studies depict the black family as a model to avoid, undeserving, and even pathological. Some researchers claimed that such family structure has instigated even specific facts, from the 1981 Brixton Riots to the recent events connected with the 2011 London riots.
Method
In the first section the paper introduces common themes gathered both from existing literature and interviews with practitioners working with Caribbean families. Subsequently the authors present a response to the investigation of such criticisms through the analysis of the data collected throughout two years of ethnographic fieldwork within the Caribbean community in South London. Attachment theory has been identified and employed as the tool for understanding and comparing patterns of mother-child relationship, as well as family dynamics.
Results
Several common themes emerged from the analysis of the data collected: unbalanced family structure, in which the figure of the mother dominates and the figure of the father is frequently absent, male/female interaction, expression of emotions, and patterns of communication. The comparison of fieldwork data with existing patterns of attachment evinced gaps in the theory and the need for a new attachment pattern, fluctuant, specific to the studied population. A series of vignettes is presented in support to the formulation of such pattern.
Conclusions
The analysis of the concept of fluctuant attachment and of its impact on family dynamic and child development provides a new perspective and possible approaches for practitioners working with Caribbean families.
However, this paper will examine a much less considered side of the story. In fact, it will focus on the effects of misinformed and inaccurate evaluation and punishment of child abuse, a possible threat for both parents and children.
Starting from the illustration of an unfortunate case study of a Latin American family living in London, developed throughout a year of regular observations, the paper will present the consequences of the social services’ intervention on the various members of the family.
The analysis of the case will be developed through an overview of the British juridical and socio-cultural context of child abuse and through the discussions developed in various focus groups with mothers from different cultural backgrounds. This discussion will highlight how misconceptions, poor understanding and lack of communication can turn a safeguarding intervention into a possible disruptive intervention for a family.
A further analysis of the results obtained through focus groups with Latin American parents and British practitioners will delineate possible strategies to avoid the repetition of such a controversial and negative situation.
Book chapters by francesca zanatta