The Moral Experiences of Children Living in Poverty: A Focused Ethnography

Abstract

A focused ethnography was conducted in an after-school academic support program serving vulnerable populations in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The aim of this study was to explore the moral experiences of children living in poverty to inform on their daily experiences and moral lives. Our results highlighted that these children, who were experiencing economic hardship and/or social isolation, faced various social barriers, such as stigmatization, family isolation, and linguistic challenges for new immigrant children. As active agents, they navigated the challenges they encountered with help from the program.