Redefining Agency: A Study of Disabled Children’s Agency in the Global South and Its Implications for Research in China

Abstract

This paper, based on the theoretical framework of childhood studies of disabled children, investigates the agency of disabled children in the Global South of the Northern Hemisphere, critically incorporating theoretical frameworks primarily developed in the Global North. Through a review and critical discourse analysis of 15 academic articles on the agency of disabled children, this study identifies how their agency is conceptualised and represented across different sociocultural and political contexts in the Global South. It was found that the agency of disabled children in the Global South is manifested as freedom, aspiration, contextual, and influenced by power relations; moreover, their agency often requires mediation, as their voices are not always trusted or understood. This research explores how these children, often viewed from a vulnerability perspective, demonstrate agency in uniquely resilient ways, challenging conventional norms and expectations. The findings reveal significant differences in the theoretical understanding of agency between countries in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, emphasising the need to recontextualise Northern theories to accommodate the diverse realities of disabled children's lives in the Global South. Furthermore, the study discusses the implications of these insights for the theory of childhood and the agency of disabled children in China, suggesting that Chinese scholars and educational policymakers need to alter their perception of disabled children and view them as social agents. The research advocates for a nuanced understanding of institutions adapted to cultural, social, and economic diversities, which is crucial for advancing research on disabled children in China, as well as inclusive education and broader societal acceptance.