Publication details
Not Innocent, but Vulnerable: An Approach to Childhood Innocence.
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The chapter begins by examining the concept of childhood innocence, the critiques of the concept, and critiques about the political use of the concept. We go on to ask what about childhood innocence or similar concepts might be preserved in the area of sex education and childhood sexuality in general. We agree that using the concept of innocence to make claims on behalf of children has an insidious effect on discourse about children, not only because it positions children as helpless, incompetent, and entirely dependent on the will and decisions of adults but because it also supports political agendas harmful to children and other marginalized groups. The concept of innocence, as it is currently used across the globe with regard to sex and sexuality, also tends to be activated around certain (privileged) groups of children, while other kinds of children are neglected based on their race, class, ethnicity, or geopolitical location. We acknowledge, however, that the concept of innocence has historically also been closely connected with some policies and actions that were taken in order to make children´s lives better. So, we argue that when critiquing the concept of childhood sexual innocence, scholars should be careful not to at the same time neglect the need for children´s protection. We suggest replacing the concept of innocence with the concept of vulnerability. |
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