Derechos del niño y sistemas residenciales en Chile: Representaciones sociales de adultos cuidadores

Abstract

The paradigm of children in irregular situation has orientated the representations of the childhood construction over more than two centuries. This article deals with social representations of Children´s Rigths of adults who work as caregivers in residences at the Children´s National Service (SENAME), in Chile. The research was carried out using a qualitative approach, and semi-structured interviews as a technique for data production. The participants were ten caregivers who are working in the region of Ñuble. The representations of the caregivers are presented through two figurative nucleus: one related to the child, and the other related to the caregiver. The main findings show a semantic universe where a new vision of the child, as a subject of rights, coexists together with the image of a child as an object of protection. The caregiver anchors his or her identity to the exercise of care, defining a relationship with the child where traditional care behaviors (satisfaction of basic needs) prevail, with the development of well-treating behaviors linked to values, to the recognition of the other, to emotional expression and to a strong affective component. Likewise, it discloses an alterity tension with respect to a child conceived, on the one hand, as a subject of rights, but, on the other hand, as challenging, and at times, uncooperative.