Violence and Agency in Children’s Narratives

Abstract

The reconstruction of the agency of children who experience family violence is at the centre of this article. The focus is on the subjective experience of agency from the perspective of children, as well as their (in)ability to act and their (lack of) power to act. Based on semi-structured interviews, I analysed how children between the ages of 10 and 14 talk about their experiences of violence and how they present themselves as capable of acting in their narratives - despite their systematically vulnerable position. The analysis shows that establishing spatial distance, offering resistance, and hoping for help are central practices applied by the children. They also develop ‘prevention strategies’ to avoid renewed violence. Children also use the interview situation itself as a moment of empowerment by telling their story in a way that shows how they want to be perceived using their agency. At the same time, however, the limitation of their ability to act is also addressed, which is primarily attributed to their unfavourable position in the power hierarchy with adults. The limitation of their agency is particularly evident in the fact that children cannot stop or prevent violence in the long term despite their strategies. It is thus clearly recognisable that children remain in vulnerable positions despite their agency.