Reflections on researching ‘race’ with children
The Canadian Sociological Association’s Sociology of Childhood and Youth Research Cluster is pleased to bring you this presentation by Dr. Rachel Berman who will discuss the SSHRC funded study “Can we talk about race: Confronting colour blindness in early childhood settings” that took place from 2014-2016 in Toronto.
The project utilized critical race theory and the sociology of childhood, and included interviews and participant observation with children to explore the children’s perceptions of ‘race’ and racial identity. Some of the data generated, along with ethical dilemmas, issues of power and questions that arose both during and after conducting this research will be discussed.
Moderators:
Dr. Rebecca Raby, Brock University
Dr. Noah Kenneally, MacEwan University
Madison Moore, Trent University
Guest Speaker:
Dr. Rachel Berman, Toronto Metropolitan University
Rachel Berman is an immigrant and white settler who grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which is the traditional territory of many nations including the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is covered by Treaty 13. Rachel is a Professor and the Graduate Program Director in the School of Early Childhood Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University and an adjunct member to the graduate program in Gender, Feminist & Women’s Studies at York University. Her research and teaching focus on ‘race’ in early childhood settings, theoretical frameworks, in particular critical race theory and feminist theories, and critical qualitative methods. Her research has appeared in the International Critical Childhood Policy Studies Journal, the Journal of Childhood Studies, Children & Society, and the International Journal of Qualitative Methods amongst others.