Reconceptualizing Activism through a Feminist Care Ethics in the Ontario (Canada) Early Childhood Education Context: Enacting Caring Activism

While early childhood education (ECE) in Ontario has always had a vibrant social activist community, it is characterized by tensions within and between individuals and institutions at the minor (childcare centres, post-secondary ECE programs) and major (mainstream media, public policy) levels. ECE a...

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Main Authors: Brooke Richardson, Alana Powell, Lisa Johnston, Rachel Langford
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/2/89
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author Brooke Richardson
Alana Powell
Lisa Johnston
Rachel Langford
author_facet Brooke Richardson
Alana Powell
Lisa Johnston
Rachel Langford
author_sort Brooke Richardson
collection DOAJ
description While early childhood education (ECE) in Ontario has always had a vibrant social activist community, it is characterized by tensions within and between individuals and institutions at the minor (childcare centres, post-secondary ECE programs) and major (mainstream media, public policy) levels. ECE activism is further complicated by the fact that it often feels impossible/unsustainable within our existing patriarchal, neoliberal political structure. In this paper we, four ECE activists and leaders, turn to feminist care ethics (FCE) to reflect on our own activism experiences and imagine a different way of doing and sustaining activism in ECE. We insist that activism be understood as a relational <i>process</i> that bridges major and minor spaces (and everything in between) in a way that cares <i>about</i>, <i>for</i>, and <i>with</i> all those involved. We enthusiastically invite other to join us on this journey, exploring and navigating the beautiful awkwardness, discomfort, tension, and possibilities in caring <i>for</i> and <i>with</i> each other in major and minor political spaces.
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spelling doaj.art-3592a8318beb4fecbffde65b62887bf82023-11-16T23:16:19ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602023-02-011228910.3390/socsci12020089Reconceptualizing Activism through a Feminist Care Ethics in the Ontario (Canada) Early Childhood Education Context: Enacting Caring ActivismBrooke Richardson0Alana Powell1Lisa Johnston2Rachel Langford3Department of Sociology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, CanadaAssociation of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario, Toronto, ON M6G 1A5, CanadaFaculty of Education, York University, North York, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaSchool of Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, CanadaWhile early childhood education (ECE) in Ontario has always had a vibrant social activist community, it is characterized by tensions within and between individuals and institutions at the minor (childcare centres, post-secondary ECE programs) and major (mainstream media, public policy) levels. ECE activism is further complicated by the fact that it often feels impossible/unsustainable within our existing patriarchal, neoliberal political structure. In this paper we, four ECE activists and leaders, turn to feminist care ethics (FCE) to reflect on our own activism experiences and imagine a different way of doing and sustaining activism in ECE. We insist that activism be understood as a relational <i>process</i> that bridges major and minor spaces (and everything in between) in a way that cares <i>about</i>, <i>for</i>, and <i>with</i> all those involved. We enthusiastically invite other to join us on this journey, exploring and navigating the beautiful awkwardness, discomfort, tension, and possibilities in caring <i>for</i> and <i>with</i> each other in major and minor political spaces.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/2/89feminist care ethicsactivismadvocacyearly childhood educationchildcare
spellingShingle Brooke Richardson
Alana Powell
Lisa Johnston
Rachel Langford
Reconceptualizing Activism through a Feminist Care Ethics in the Ontario (Canada) Early Childhood Education Context: Enacting Caring Activism
Social Sciences
feminist care ethics
activism
advocacy
early childhood education
childcare
title Reconceptualizing Activism through a Feminist Care Ethics in the Ontario (Canada) Early Childhood Education Context: Enacting Caring Activism
title_full Reconceptualizing Activism through a Feminist Care Ethics in the Ontario (Canada) Early Childhood Education Context: Enacting Caring Activism
title_fullStr Reconceptualizing Activism through a Feminist Care Ethics in the Ontario (Canada) Early Childhood Education Context: Enacting Caring Activism
title_full_unstemmed Reconceptualizing Activism through a Feminist Care Ethics in the Ontario (Canada) Early Childhood Education Context: Enacting Caring Activism
title_short Reconceptualizing Activism through a Feminist Care Ethics in the Ontario (Canada) Early Childhood Education Context: Enacting Caring Activism
title_sort reconceptualizing activism through a feminist care ethics in the ontario canada early childhood education context enacting caring activism
topic feminist care ethics
activism
advocacy
early childhood education
childcare
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/2/89
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