Government of adults, children government: agents, practices and discourses from the “spanking law”

Abstract

In this article I explore the genealogy of the elaboration and processing of a proposed bill which in Brazil is popularly known as the “Spanking Law” (i. e. the PL 7672/10) and which seeks legitimacy by arguing for the necessary adaptation of the country to international standards of Childhood Protection. Inspired by authors who demonstrate the connections between politics, science and morals around the theme of “childhood”, I will try to identify the main actors engaged in this debate and the keynote of speeches delivered in the House of Representatives at the meetings of the Special Committee formed in August 2011 to evaluate the PL 7672/10. I also seek to identify how the “universal child” is particularized in debates around the proposed bill. Finally, the focus on the controversy over the words to be used in the law highlights the discursive struggle within this discussion, which concerns the government of adults’ and children’s conduct.