Democratic and emancipatory experiences through photovoice

Abstract

Children's experience is often explored by adult gazes but the literature invites to consider children's participation as a juncture that fosters democratic experiences of having a say in community decisions.

In light of these considerations, an exploratory research using photovoice with 3- to 6-year-old children, has promoted spaces for participation, expression, and empowerment of a marginalized cultural group. Children have participated in a process capable of enhancing democratic and emancipatory experiences, which take the form of phases that promote expressive experiences of critical dialogue, aimed at welcoming different voices that enter into dialogue with the extended community with transformative purposes. In this sense, children, active agents of change, can co-construct knowledge and experience public spaces of collective expression.