Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-qxsvm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-16T11:43:40.772Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Marxist and feminist critiques of child protection: To protect children or to change society?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Philip Mendes
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper critically examines Marxist and feminist literature on child protection, and identifies both their strengths and weaknesses. The author concludes that, while both ideologies call for broader policy reforms to address the prevalence of poverty and male violence, the core responsibility of statutory systems remains the protection of children and their rights.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , 1999 , pp. 27 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Archard, D. (1993), Children: Rights and Childhood, Routledge, London.Google Scholar
Armstrong, L. (1995), Of Sluts and Bastards: A Feminist Decodes the Child Welfare Debate, Common Courage Press, Monroe.Google Scholar
Auditor-General (1996), Protecting Victoria’s children, Victorian Government, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Bambacas, C. (1998), ‘The Problematic Use of the Concepts of Empowerment, Responsibility and Innocence in Child Protection Programs’, Policy, Organisation & Society, 16, 110–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Belsky, J. (1978), “Three Theoretical Models of Child Abuse: A Critical Review’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 2, 37–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bretag, T. (1998), ‘Truculent mother may be a victim, too’, The Australian, 28 October.Google Scholar
Callahan, M. (1985), ‘Public Apathy & Government Parsimony: A Review of Child Welfare in Canada’ in The Challenge of Child Welfare, eds. Levitt, K. & Wharf, B., University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver, 1–27.Google Scholar
Callahan, M. (1993), ‘Feminist Approaches: Women Recreate Child Welfare’ in Rethinking Child Welfare in Canada, ed. Wharf, B., Mclelland, & Stewart, , Toronto, , 172–209.Google Scholar
Caddick, A. (1992), Dogged by Community Welfare’, Arena, 99/100, 12–18.Google Scholar
Carment, A. (1989), ‘Does poverty increase the incidence of child abuse?’, Impact, October/November, 12–15.Google Scholar
Carrington, K. (1991), ‘Policing Families and Controlling the Young’ in For Your Own Good: Young People and State Intervention in Australia, eds. White, R. & Wilson, B., La Trobe University Press, Melbourne, 108–117.Google Scholar
Carter, J., Burston, O., Floyd, F. & Stewart, J. (1988), Mandatory Reporting and Child Abuse, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Clark, R. (1994), ‘Responding to Family Violence in Alcohol, Drugs and the Family, Australian Drug Foundation, Melbourne, 90–118.Google Scholar
Cooper, D. (1993), Child Abuse Revisited, Open University Press, Buckingham.Google Scholar
Corby, B. (1993), Child Abuse: Towards a Knowledge Base, Open University Press, Buckingham.Google Scholar
Costello, T. (1998), Streets of Hope, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.Google Scholar
Costin, L, Karger, H.J & Stoesz, D. (1996), The Politics of Child Abuse in America, Oxford University Press, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dominelli, L. & McLeod, E. (1989), Feminist Social Work, MacMillan, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eccleston, R. (1998), ‘Neglect charts course to crime’, The Australian, 8 December.Google Scholar
Farmer, E. (1997), ‘Paradox in Child Protection Practice: Regulated Mothers and Protected Fathers’ in States, Markets, Communities: Remapping the Boundaries Volume 2, eds. Saunders, P. & Eardley, T., Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney, pp.57–68.Google Scholar
Featherstone, B. (1996), ‘Victims or Villains? Women who Physically Abuse Their Children’ in Violence and Gender Relations, eds. Fawcett, B., Featherstone, B., Hearn, J. & Toft, C., Sage Publications, London, 178–189.Google Scholar
Featherstone, B. (1997), ‘I wouldn’t do your job: Women, social work and child abuse’ in Mothering and Ambivalence, eds. Hollway, W. & Featherstone, B., Routledge, London, pp.167–192.Google Scholar
Featherstone, B. & Trinder, L. (1997), ‘Familiar Subjects? Domestic violence and child welfare’, Child and Family Social Work, 2, 147–159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fernandez, E. (1996), Significant Harm: Unravelling Child Protection Decisions and Substitute Care Careers of Children, Avebury, Aldershot.Google Scholar
Fitzroy, L. (1998), ‘Offending Mothers: thoughts and ideas’, paper presented to Australian Institute of Family Studies ‘Changing families, challenging futures’ Conference, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Frost, N. & Stein, M. (1989), The Politics of Child Welfare: Inequality, Power and Change, Harvester Wheatsheaf, London.Google Scholar
Gair, S. & Thorpe, R. (1996), ‘Helpers as Victims: Assaults on Women in Social Welfare Practice’ in Women and Violence, eds. Thorpe, R. & Irwin, J., Hale & Iremonger, Marrickville, , 88–107.Google Scholar
Gelles, R. (1992), Poverty and Violence Toward Children’, American Behavioral Scientist, 35(3), 258–274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gil, D. (1998), Confronting Injustice and Oppression: Concepts and Strategies for Social Workers, Columbia University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Goddard, C. (1996), Child abuse and child protection: A guide for health, education and welfare workers, Churchill Livingstone, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Goddard, C. & Carew, R. (1993), Responding to children: child welfare practice, Longman Cheshire, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Gordon, L. (1986), ‘Feminism and Social Control: the Case of Child Abuse and Neglect’ in What is feminism?, eds. Mitchell, J. & Oakley, A., Basil BlackwelL, Oxford, 63–75.Google Scholar
Green, S. (1993), Our Voluntary Homeless, Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Holborow, B. (1997), Those Tracks On My Face, William Heinemann, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Jamrozik, A. & Sweeney, T. (1996), Children and Society, MacMillan, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Jamrozik, A. & Nocella, L. (1998), The Sociology of Social Problems, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, J. (1998), ‘Feminist Perspectives’ in The Student’s Companion to Social Policy, eds. P., Alcock, Erskine, A. & May, M., Blackwell Publishers, London, 85–90.Google Scholar
L’Hullier, E. (1994), ‘A Feminist Approach to Child Protection: Implications For Practice’, Australian Association of Social Workers Victorian Newsletter, 4(22), 21–22.Google Scholar
L’Hullier, E. (1996), ‘Neglecting mothers: feminist analysis of the Victorian child protection service’, Women Against Violence, November, 11–21.Google Scholar
Lyall, K. (1998), ‘It’s everyone’s fault – except the offender’s’, The Australian, 5 November.Google Scholar
Macleod, M. & Saraga, E. (1988), ‘Challenging the Orthodoxy: Towards a Feminist Theory and Practice’, Feminist Review, 28, 16–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, M. (1985), ‘Poverty and Child Welfare’ in The Challenge of Child Welfare, eds. Levitt, K. & Wharf, B., University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver, 53–65.Google Scholar
Mason, J. (1989), ‘In Whose Best Interests? Some Mothers’ Experiences of Child Welfare Interventions’, Australian Child and Family Welfare, 14(4), 4–6.Google Scholar
Mason, J. & Noble-Spruell, (1993), ‘Child Protection Policy in New South Wales: A Critical Analysis’ in Child Welfare Policy: Critical Australian Perspectives, ed. Mason, J., Hale & Iremonger, Marrickville, 25–36.Google Scholar
Mason, J. (1994), ‘Understanding Child Neglect: The Significance and Challenge for Child Welfare Work Today’ in Chronic Neglect: The Hidden Face of Child Abuse Conference Proceedings, Mission of St James and St John, Melbourne, 1–14.Google Scholar
Mason, J., Noble, C. & Campbell, L. (1994), ‘Feminist Practice with Mothers of Children at Risk’, Women in Welfare Education Journal, 1, 93–112.Google Scholar
Mendes, P. (1996), ‘Conservative criticism of child protection: The case of the Australian Family Association’, Children Australia, 21(2), 31–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mendes, P. (1997), ‘The Left, Social Workers and the Welfare State: An Old Debate Revisited’ in Social Work Influencing Outcomes: 25th AASW National Conference Proceedings Volume 2, Canberra, 482–489.Google Scholar
Merrick, D. (1996), Social Work and Child Abuse, Routledge, London.Google Scholar
Mowbray, M. (1992) ‘The Political Economy of Substitute Care’, Caring, 16(3), 4–12.Google Scholar
Muehlenberg, B. (1994), In Defence of the Family, Australian Family Association, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Myers, J. (1994), The Backlash: Child Protection Under Fire, Sage Publications, London.Google Scholar
Orme, J. (1998), ‘Feminist social work’ in Social Work: Themes, Issues and Critical Debates, eds Adams, R., Dominelli, L. & Payne, M., MacMillan, London, 218–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parton, C. (1990), ‘Women, gender oppression and child abuse’ in Taking Child Abuse Seriously, ed. Violence Against Children Study Group, Unwin Hyman, London, 41–62.Google Scholar
Parton, N. (1985), The Politics of Child Abuse, MacMillan, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pascall, G. (1997), Social Policy: A New Feminist Analysis, Routledge, London.Google Scholar
Pelroy, L. (1985), ‘Child Abuse and Neglect: The Myth of Classlessness’ in The Social Context of Child Abuse and Neglect, ed. Pelton, L., Human Sciences Press, New York, 23–38.Google Scholar
Platt, A. (1977), The Child Savers: The Invention of Delinquency, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.Google Scholar
Stark, E. & Flitcraft, A. (1988), ‘Women and Children at Risk: A Feminist Perspective on Child Abuse’, International Journal of Health Services, 18(1), 97–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sweeney, T. (1983), ‘Child Welfare and Child Care Policies’ in Retreat from the Welfare State, ed Graycar, A., Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 35–54.Google Scholar
Sweeney, T. (1989), ‘Inequalities in Our Provisions for Young Children’ in Australian Welfare: Historical Sociology, ed, Kennedy, R., MacMillan, Melbourne, 304–328.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, R. (1995), Preventing Child Maltreatment Through Social Support, Sage Publications, London.Google Scholar
Thorpe, D. (1994), Evaluating child protection, Open University Press, Buckingham.Google Scholar
Thorpe, R. (1996), ‘High Expectations, Low Resources: Mothering, Violence and Child Abuse’ in Women and Violence, eds. Thorpe, R. & Irwin, J., Hale & Iremonger, Marrickville, 109–128.Google Scholar
Van Krieken, R. (1992), Children and the state: Social Control and the formation of Australian child welfare, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.Google Scholar
Vinson, T. & McArthur, M. (1988), ‘Why child abuse appears to have increased’, Modern Medicine of Australia, September, 62–73.Google Scholar
Vinson, T., Berreen, R. & McArthur, M. (1989), ‘Class, surveillance and child abuse’, Impact, April/May, 19–21.Google Scholar
Williams, F. (1989), Social Policy: A Critical Introduction, Blackwell, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Wise, S. (1995), ‘Feminist ethics in practice’ in Ethical Issues in Social Work, Routledge, London, 104–119.Google Scholar