"You could love who you want and be who you are". Primary school children's relationship cultures at the interfaces of girlhoods and the possibilities for their diversity
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Linnanmaa, L2
Topic of the dissertation
"You could love who you want and be who you are". Primary school children's relationship cultures at the interfaces of girlhoods and the possibilities for their diversity
Doctoral candidate
Master of Education Eveliina Puutio
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Values, Ideologies and Social Contexts of Education
Subject of study
Sociology and Gender Studies
Opponent
Docent Elina Paju, University of Helsinki
Custos
Docent Tuija Huuki, University of Oulu
Primary school children's ideas about romance, gender and self are established in everyday moments – more relationships education is needed
What kinds of views do primary school children have on gender and romantic relationships? How do issues of romance and eligibility play out in children's everyday lives? Eveliina Puutio's doctoral thesis addresses these questions. It delves into how gender and sexuality materialize in the relationships between primary school children from the perspectives of girlhoods. In the research gender and sexuality in children’s peer relations are addressed through the concept of relationship cultures. The study shows how relationship cultures are produced as sexually toned moments between children, the pursuits of ideal heterosexual femininity, and deviations from gender and sexuality norms.
The research deepens previous findings on how there is little room for gender and sexual diversity in children's lives. Hence, it focuses on the ways in which diversity of children’s relationship cultures becomes possible. The study found that distancing oneself from normative ways of expressing gender and sexuality, the iterations of different expressions and their acceptance enables a variety of ways of being in relationships. Researching and supporting diversity in children's relationships is highly important. It promotes the well-being of gender and sexual minorities and broadens the gender and sexuality assumptions that affect all children.
The research has been carried out at the turn of 2010 and 2020 in three stages, utilizing ethnographic, creative, and participatory methods and new materialist theoretical approach. It involved observing the everyday school life of fifth graders, first graders and sixth graders in northern Finland, as well as organizing creative workshops for the children about their relationships.
The results of the study help to understand children's sexuality and gender and how mundane moments establish ideas about self, sexuality, and romance. As relationship cultures are significant for children's everyday lives, their being and participating to a group, Puutio suggests the development of a systematic relationships education curriculum for primary schools. She also suggests extending relationships education into everyday school life, where children’s relationships constantly take place.
The research deepens previous findings on how there is little room for gender and sexual diversity in children's lives. Hence, it focuses on the ways in which diversity of children’s relationship cultures becomes possible. The study found that distancing oneself from normative ways of expressing gender and sexuality, the iterations of different expressions and their acceptance enables a variety of ways of being in relationships. Researching and supporting diversity in children's relationships is highly important. It promotes the well-being of gender and sexual minorities and broadens the gender and sexuality assumptions that affect all children.
The research has been carried out at the turn of 2010 and 2020 in three stages, utilizing ethnographic, creative, and participatory methods and new materialist theoretical approach. It involved observing the everyday school life of fifth graders, first graders and sixth graders in northern Finland, as well as organizing creative workshops for the children about their relationships.
The results of the study help to understand children's sexuality and gender and how mundane moments establish ideas about self, sexuality, and romance. As relationship cultures are significant for children's everyday lives, their being and participating to a group, Puutio suggests the development of a systematic relationships education curriculum for primary schools. She also suggests extending relationships education into everyday school life, where children’s relationships constantly take place.
Last updated: 6.5.2024