A Context‐Informed Perspective of Child Risk and Protection: Deconstructing Myths in the Risk Discourse

Abstract

This article discusses context‐informed conceptualization in the study of children's risk and protection. It begins by defining this perspective, challenging the universalistic approach and the view of cultures as uniform, monolithic and static and acknowledging hybridity, complexity, and the dynamics of change and power relations. In the second part of the article, we exemplify three contexts (religion and spirituality, racism and exclusion, political conflict and violence) that emerged from our large‐scale qualitative research project in Israel exploring perceptions of child risk and protection in different contexts. In the third part of the article, we rethink the ontological nature of the categories of child “risk” and “protection.” We outline and deconstruct three prevalent myths identified in the risk discourse, discuss the stance of the observer and the issue of power, the discrepancies and value mismatch between parents and professionals, and the concept of complexity in the risk discourse.

Mind the gap: Parental and professional perceptions of ‘risk’ for children living in poverty

“…As mentioned earlier, the context-informed approach aspires to identify the relevant contexts at play in the construction of the 'risk' discourse (Nadan & Roer-Strier, 2020). Our findings indicate that one of the salient sociopolitical contexts that has a tremendous impact on the construction of the categories of 'risk' and 'protection' and their derived social work actions is current neoliberal ideology.…”

“…Although in many respects, we found congruence between professionals and parents, this article focused on gaps, showing that parents' subjective perceptions of risk and protection in the lives of their children may differ significantly from those of their social workers. Gaps between parents and social workers' perceptions concerning risk and protection among children were also found in a series of qualitative studies conducted in different communities in Israel (Nadan & Roer-Strier, 2020). In a study among Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities, for example, parents spoke of 'spiritual risk' as the major concern for their children.…”

“…A growing body of literature is exploring parental and professional perceptions regarding risk, well-being and protection of children in different cultures and contexts (e.g., Engdau-Vanda, 2020;Nadan & Roer-Strier, 2020). Findings from different communities indicate differences in perceptions based on value mismatches parents who hold local cultural values versus professionals who underwent professional socialization based on Western values.…”

“…More specifically, in the case of child neglect, deep discrepancies were found in specific communities living in poverty in Israel (e.g., Ultra-Orthodox Jewish and Bedouin). Parents in these communities persistently implored social workers to distinguish between child neglect and sociocultural and environmental conditions (Nadan & Roer-Strier, 2020).…”

Children during coronavirus: Israeli preschool children’ s perspectives

“…), different contexts create a different experience among siblings. The theory emphasizes other aspects of complexity, hybridity, intersections of locations and power relations ( Nadan and Roer-Strier, 2020 ) and the premise of this approach is that different components in the experience of emotion - social, cognitive, and even physiological - may vary across culture and time. Thus, the individual ought to be addressed and his voice heard, and not just seen as part of a group ( Roer-Strier, 2016 ).…”