Revisiting the “At Risk” Pervasive Construct
Abstract
Despite the long and prolific literature advocating the deconstruction of at risk and its negative connotations for those characterized by it, the persistence of the term makes the topic a crucial matter of discussion. The real-life problems posed to those labeled at risk justifies yet another critical analysis. This paper draws from both literature and experience accumulated from our long commitment with the Roma community to illustrate the destructive consequences of categorizing children and families on the basis of their origin, ability, and other traits of their identities. We focus on our work with Roma children and, in particular, with disabled Roma children demonstrate the intersection between Elizabeth Swadener’s work and our own to deconstruct the negative, bleak conceptualization of at risk children and families.
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