La infancia a través de la historia de vida de siete Madres Tránsito: Imaginarios sociales de Infancia

Abstract

The research examines the role of community mothers in childcare in Ciudad Bolívar, Bogotá, for over thirty years, focusing on the social imaginaries of childhood of seven women through their life stories. Social imaginaries evolve with social changes and challenges, representing a collective consensus on the interpretation of the world and the organization of social relations. The study seeks to recognize and analyze the life stories of these women to identify similarities, differences, conflicts, and factors of change in the construction of social imaginaries about childhood. It also aims to highlight the contribution of these women to early education, valuing their participation in social and workspaces that have benefited hundreds of girls and boys in Colombia for decades. Community mothers, also known as transit mothers, have been essential in early childhood care, especially in areas neglected by the state. The implementation of policies and laws to protect childhood and labor rights of this group led to a transition between 2012 and 2015, where many of these women formalized their work with grassroots operators created by Community Mothers and non-profit associations of the same entity qualified in child and community work. The document focuses on the development of research on the social imaginaries of childhood of seven transit mothers in Arborizadora Alta, City of Bolívar, and their implications in everyday practices. It recognizes the work of these women in vulnerable territories and their contribution to the development of their communities and Colombian society. The theoretical constructs used in this research invite us to explore social imaginaries about childhood based on the life history construction of these women, who have played roles as community mothers and are currently recognized as "transit mothers." These imaginaries represent the foundations from which they have identified their contributions to the care and protection of girls and boys in Colombia for over thirty years.