Una infancia perdida

Abstract

This research-creation project gathers, through genealogy and a dramaturgical creation proposal, the experience of lost childhood within my family. This experience manifests as a recurring theme across three generations, interrupted only in my own childhood. The genealogical study involved interviews and the examination of family documents and photographs. The process of theatrical creation, stemming from this research-creation, employed elements of absurd theatre alongside my own experiences as an actress and playwright. Throughout this process, I uncovered that lost childhood is a recurring condition in economically, socially, and culturally vulnerable communities, where children must sacrifice their childhood for child labor and to support their families. This thesis draws on theoretical frameworks from critical studies of performativity, delving into the intersubjective aspects shaping the childhood experiences, particularly within the life histories of three women: my mother, my grandmother, and myself. I discovered that the loss of childhood, due to children assuming responsibilities to meet basic needs and ensure family survival, is an experience of confinement. This confinement unfolds in limited spaces such as rooms, chambers, cubicles, or boxes. This work pays tribute to the struggles undertaken by these three women for the survival and future of their children's lives. The experiences of children during the current stage of capitalist development, which has deeply marked Colombia since the 1950s, diminish the possibility of fully enjoying childhood. Furthermore, it has subjected women to conditions of permanent migration, prostitution, forced labor, starvation-induced abortions, and poverty. The confinement of children as a protective measure and the continuous, extended caregiving work imposed on women make their lives incredibly challenging to bear.