Contradictions in children's policy: Partnering families - or policing them?

Abstract

This article sets out to explore various aspects of current government policy in relation to children and families. In particular, it focuses on recent legislation in the fields of child care, child support, and young offenders, and current proposals to reform the law concerning divorce. In doing so, the article highlights apparent contradictions between policies which appear to take a coercive approach to the conduct of family life and parental obligations, and those which are more sympathetic and understanding towards parents. The article concludes that this contradiction makes sense only in the light of government preoccupations with making moral distinctions between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ parents. It goes on to ask whether policy could not better be built on a presumption that parents should be trusted to care for their children; some examples of practical policies arising from this assumption are suggested

Key Words:

• child care
• child support
• family policy
• Children Act
• partnership
• divorce law
• mediation
• youth crime
• parental responsibility
• parents ‘with care’