Parental rights and responsibilities: Analysing social policy and lived experiences

by Harriet Churchill

Overview

This timely book examines parental rights to 'welfare state support' and parental responsibilities for child welfare in relation to recent social policy agendas pursued by the Labour government in the UK in the context of child well-being research, state welfare analysis and sociological research about parental perspectives and the multiple contexts of parenting and childhood. It calls for notions of parental rights and responsibilities which are more responsive to the diversity of parental perspectives and parenting contexts. The book is valuable reading for students, researchers and practitioners in social policy and child and family services.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847420909
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	03/30/2011
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.77(w) x 9.45(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

Harriet Churchill, Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield

Table of Contents

List of figures, tables and boxes iv

Acknowledgements vi

List of abbreviations vii

1 Introduction 1

Part 1 The broader context

2 Conceptualising child, family and social well-being 15

3 Socio-economic change and social well-being trends 31

4 Children, families and welfare state restructuring 61

Part 2 Social policy developments 1997-2010

5 Welfare to work measures and financial support for families 91

6 Childcare and family-friendly employment policies 111

7 Parental and family support services 133

Part 3 Research on parental perspectives

8 Parenthood and parenting in context 161

9 Negotiating work and family life 183

Part 4 Policy implications

10 Conclusion: rights and responsibilities for child, family and social well-being 201

References 225

Index 245

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Harriet Churchill's new book is a comprehensive, well written and extremely useful review of recent family policy and research. Recommended reading." Val Gillies, Families & Social Capital Research Group, London South Bank University

"Harriet Churchill powerfully juxtaposes British policies around parenting with the experiences and perspectives of parents. This encounter is both a painful and productive one, enabling her to suggest ways in which parental rights and responsibilities might be re-thought." John Clarke, Professor of Social Policy, The Open University

Editorial Reviews

"A comprehensive and timely critical review" Journal of Social Policy

From the Publisher