Acquiring Agency: Children’s Perspective Within the Context of Migration in Germany

Abstract

Agency of children is not only a basic premise of sociology of childhood, but is also described by children themselves as being essential for a feeling of well-being. The following article aligns with the literature on well-being and agency within the context of unequal childhood in so far as it intends to shed light on this area of research by focussing on children with a migration background. Perspectives of children with a migration background in view of their life and their ideas of what a good life is all about have been rather neglected in recent literature. Nevertheless, social reports and empiric social research identify the life of children with a migration background as being characterised by social and structural disadvantages. This article analyses group discussions with children with a migration background in order to identify in which way collective patterns of orientation point to children’s acquisition of agency.