Responsibility, Law and the Family

by Craig Lind, Heather Keating, Jo Bridgeman

Overview

Focusing on moral, social and legal responsibilities as opposed to rights or obligations, this volume explores the concept of responsibility in family life, law and practice. Divided into four parts, the study considers the nature of family responsibility; constructions of children's responsibilities; shifting conceptions of family responsibilities; and family, responsibility and the law. The collection brings together leading experts from the disciplines of sociology, socio-legal studies and law to discuss responsibilities prior to birth, responsibilities for children, as well as responsibilities of children and of the state towards family members. The volume informs and challenges the developing conceptualization of responsibilities which arise in interdependent, intimate and caring relationships and their legal regulation. It will be of great interest to researchers and practitioners working in this complex field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781409496144
Publisher:	Ashgate Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	02/28/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Jo Bridgeman, Heather Keating and Craig Lind are Senior Lecturers in Law in the Sussex Law School. Jo Bridgeman's research employs feminist legal theory to analyse the law relating to care of children. Heather Keating's research focuses upon the criminal law relating to children both as offenders and victims. Craig Lind's research interests are in the areas of gender and sexuality, children in law, and family regulation across cultural divides.

Jo Bridgeman, Heather Keating, Michael Freeman, Jonathan Herring, Harriet Churchill, John Williams, Virginia Morrow, Adrian James, Richard Collier, Craig Lind, Amanda Wade, Alison Diduck.

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface; Introduction: conceptualising family responsibility, Jo Bridgeman and Heather Keating; Part 1 The Nature of Family Responsibility: The right to responsible parents, Michael Freeman; Together for ever? The rights and responsibilities of adult children and their parents, Jonathan Herring; Being a responsible mother: New Labour policy discourses versus lone mothers' contextualised accounts, Harriet Churchill; State responsibility and the abuse of vulnerable older people: is there a case for a public law to protect vulnerable older people from abuse?, John Williams. Part 2 Constructions of Children's Responsibilities: Responsible children and children's responsibilities? Sibling caretaking and babysitting by school-age children, Virginia Morrow; Being responsible, becoming responsible and having responsibility thrust upon them: constructing the 'responsibility' of children and parents, Heather Keating; Responsibility, children and childhood, Adrian James. Part 3 Shifting Conceptions of Family Responsibilities: Engaging fathers? Responsibility, law and the 'problem of fatherhood', Richard Collier; Responsible fathers: paternity, the blood tie and family responsibility, Craig Lind; Being responsible: 'good' parents and children's autonomy, Amanda Wade. Part 4 Family, Responsibility and the Law: Parental responsibility, responsible parenting and legal regulation, Jo Bridgeman; Family law and family responsibility, Alison Diduck; Conclusion: regulating for responsibility in an age of complex families, Craig Lind; Index.