REDISTRIBUTION, RECOGNITION AND REPRESENTATION: A READING OF NANCY FRASER WITH A CHILDHOOD LOOK

Abstract

Social justice or distributive justice is a central theme of moral philosophy, as it is for the orientation of public policies related to social resources distribution. In the field of the sociology of childhood, this dimension has been studied especially when dealing with the position of children with regard to social welfare, type and degree of their participation in the benefits offered by the state, as well as the nature and contents of childhood policies. However, childhood is outside the general debate about the meaning of justice that is currently taking place. As in other aspects, academics and researchers dedicated to thought or scientific knowledge production are adults who share with the majority of the adults a concept of childhood understood as a “non-being” and of children as who “already will be, but not yet". But, it is not necessary to force the argument of those who reflect on justice, understanding it as the way in which the different society members can receive equal treatment, to find their link with the language of the sociology of childhood, when it demands recognition of the abilities of children, ortheir right to be holders of social benefits for themselves. This article will rely on the analysis of Nancy Fraser's proposals to show their applicability to the position of children in relation to justice.