"We are Warriors": The Micropolitics of Play in Natal, Brazil

Abstract

Play, in its various manifestations, has become a bedrock of child and youth centered development NGOs. Organizations have utilized activities like sport, theatre, music, and art as vehicles for pursuing specific development agendas in the Global South. Their goals are varied and often address large scale social issues such as sexual and gender-based violence, hygiene, food security and sustainability, and peacebuilding. My research is based on the belief that play is a valuable pursuit in and of itself. My thesis aims to provide a conceptual framework for assessing how vulnerable children and youth experience play-centered programs as they navigate adversity and risky environments. This thesis is informed by the theoretical work of Deleuze and Guattari and specifically their concepts of micropolitics and becoming. I argue that this perspective offers a more embedded understanding of how players experience play-centered programs and the effects they have on their day to day lives.