Representing the family: how does the state ‘think family’?

Abstract

Over the last decade the family and family-centred policies and practices have received increasing attention within the public service agenda, culminating in the emphatic instruction to 'think family' individually, collectively and institutionally. This has occurred at a time when the sociology of the family has increasingly emphasised the difficulties of thinking family in a coherent way. In this article we explore this agenda through an examination of the representational tools with which public service professionals and managers have been recently equipped. We conclude by questioning the adequacy of these tools for effectively representing family relations.

‘Recognized, Valued and Supported’? The Experiences of Adult Siblings of People with Autism Plus Learning Disability

“…All of which suggests a degree of negotiation and contingency. This introduces a key conceptual theme, consistent with current policy, in which practitioners have been encouraged to ‘think family, individually, collectively and institutional’ (Cornford et al ., ; p1).…”

‘Who's the guy in the room?’ Involving fathers in antenatal care screening for sickle cell disorders

“…Genetic screening has a strong association with health surveillance, marginalising fathers at various points of the antenatal trajectory, only to re-focus urgently on them when further tests are required. This suggests a partial, biased and reductionist interest in them, as males at risk of a genetic condition rather than a holistic concern in them as supportive fathers (see Cornford et al (2013)). Fathers we spoke to, felt they had little choice but to assume a passive role as 'bystanders' or 'outsiders' (Locock and Alexander, 2006).…”

Women's pensions in the European Union and the current economic crisis

“…Spending on welfare policy can help to balance the economy in periods of recession, functioning in a countercyclical way by maintaining workers' wages and maintaining pension contributions and stimulating growth (Morel, Palier and Palme, 2012). Innovative policies, permitting time off and/or reduced work time in the childrearing years and a greater recognition of other forms of caring (Cornford et al, 2013), and full-time or part-time jobs in the 'retirement' years, could introduce greater flexibility and creativity in structuring education, work, and free time (Ginn, 2003). Currently, it is not clear that childcare provision in most EU countries is sufficient to enable real labour market choices, particularly among low-income parents at a time of economic crisis (Milner, 2010).…”