Children's Perceived Water Futures in the United States Southwest

Bibliographic Data

ID18980933
AuthorsHolly Vins (Emory University, corresponding author), A Wutich (0000-0003-4164-1632, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University), Alexandra Brewis (0000-0003-3769-4205, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University), Melissa Beresford (0000-0002-5707-3943, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University), A Ruth (0000-0001-6482-1922, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University), Christopher Roberts (0000-0002-6339-8365, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University)
Year2014
Volume73
Issue3
Pages235-246
Publication date2014-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHuman Organization (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0018-7259 • E-ISSN: 1938-3517
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.17730/humo.73.3.68101441563654w7
OpenAlexW2039283125
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited54

This study examines children's perceptions of water via 3,120 pieces of artwork collected from 1,560 schoolchildren (age 9-11) in Arizona, United States, with a specific focus on how these are gendered. Each child produced two pieces of art, one depicting water in their community today and one 100 years in the future. Using content analysis, the study finds that (1) students' depictions of the future contain statistically significantly more pollution and scarcity and less vegetation than those of the present; (2) girls are statistically significantly more likely than boys to draw vegetation in the present and future, domestic water uses in the future, and everyday technologies in the future; and (3) boys are statistically significantly more likely than girls to draw natural sources of water in the present and technological innovations in the future. The study also explores thematic differences in children's depictions of natural environments, domestic water use, water technologies, and dystopic water futures. Our results indicate that gendered perceptions of water are evident by middle childhood in some arenas (domestic water use, technological innovation) but not in others (environmental concerns, such as pollution)

Agriculture · Business · Economic growth · Economics · Futures contract · Geography · Perception · Qualitative research · Social science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Water scarcity · Animal and Plant Science Education · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Psychology