The ‘commodification’ of ‘children in need’ in welfare markets
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1921/swssr.v14i1.482Keywords:
<i>welfare markets</i>, <i>children in need</i>, <i>child development</i>, <i>‘helping relationship’</i>Abstract
The well-being of children and young people in the UK has been shown to be poor compared to most other affluent countries. This paper argues that the market paradigm in welfare, ideologically driven not evidence-based, requires managers to implement services for ‘children in need’ that are short-term and fragmented and developed to suit the needs of adults. These services do not provide the well-researched conditions needed for the optimal development and well-being of children and young people. A deficit model of children is embedded in welfare assessment templates and the ‘child in need’ must be objectified, standardised, costed and subject to quality control mechanisms by managers at all levels in order to meet targets and performance indicators. This, in turn, has undermined the ‘helping relationship’ with professional adults. The article begins by reviewing the move from the Welfare State to welfare markets, current evidence as to the outcomes for children and young people in the UK compared to other countries and the conditions necessary for optimal development. The discourse of consumption and how this combines with market processes and leads to the ‘commodification’ of children is then explored. In conclusion it is argued this has undermined the ‘helping relationship’ and that a return to professional identities and practices, detached from party political considerations, is imperative.
References
Ainsworth, M., Blehar, M., Waters, E., and Wall, S. (1978) <i>Patterns of Attachment</i>. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum\nAnderson, C. and Bushman, B. (2001) Effects of violent video games on aggressive behaviour, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal and prosocial behaviour: A meta-analytic review of the scientific literature,. <i>Psychological Science</i>, 12, 5, 353-359\nAsquith, S., Clark, C., and Waterhouse, L. (2005) <i>The Role of the Social Worker in the 21st Century: a Literature review</i>. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh\nBaird, P.A. (1996) Ethical Issues of Fertility and Reproduction. <i>Annual Review of Medicine</i>, 47, 107-116\nBauman, Z. (1995) <i>Life in Fragments: Essays in Postmodern Morality</i>. Oxford: Blackwell\nBauman, Z. (1998) <i>Work, consumerism and the new poor</i>. Buckingham: Open University Press\nBBC News (2010) Free social care delay outvoted. <a target="_blank" href='http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8492473.stm'>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8492473.stm</a>\nBeecham Report (2006) <i>Beyond Boundaries. Citizen-centred local services for Wales</i>. Cardiff: Beecham Review Secretariat\nBell, J., Clisby, S., Craig, G., Measor, L., Petrie, S., and Stanley, N. (2004) <i>Living on the Edge: Sexual behaviour and young parenthood in seaside and rural areas</i>. University of Hull Working Papers in Social Sciences and Policy. Hull: University of Hull\nBlackpool Gazette (2004a) A murky world of child prostitution. <a target="_blank" href='http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=62&articleid=879860'>http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=62&articleid=879860</a>\nBlackpool Gazette (2004b) Evil trade. <a target="_blank" href='http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=62&articleid=879872'>http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=62&articleid=879872</a>\nBoden, S. (2006) Dedicated followers of fashion? The influence of popular culture on children’s social identities. <i>Media, Culture & Society</i>, 28, No.2, 289-298\nBowlby, J. and Fry, M. (1965) <i>Child Care and the Growth of Love</i>,. (2nd ed) Harmondsworth: Penguin\nBoyne, G., Farrell, C., Law, J., Powell, M., and Walker, R. (2003) <i>Evaluating Public Management Reforms: Principles and practice</i>. Buckingham: Open University Press\nBurden, T., Cooper, C., and Petrie, S. (2000) <i>Modernising. Social Policy: Unravelling New Labour’s Welfare Reforms</i>. Aldershot: Ashgate\nChild Poverty Action Poverty Group (CPAG) (2009a) <i>Child Wellbeing and Child Poverty: Where the UK stands in the European table</i>. London: CPAG\nClarke, H. (2006) <i>Preventing Social Exclusion of Disabled children and Their Families. Literature review paper produced for the National Evaluation of the Children’s Fund</i>. Birmingham: University of Birmingham\nClarke, J., and Newman, J. (1993a) The right to manage: A second managerial revolution? <i>Cultural Studies</i>, 7, 3, Oct., 42-44\nClarke, J., and Newman, J. (1993b) Managing to survive: Dilemmas of changing organisational forms in the public sector. in R. Page, N. Deakin (eds.) (1993) <i>The Costs of Welfare</i>. Aldershot: Avebury (pp. 6-63)\nCook, D.T. (2004) <i>The Commodification. of Childhood: The children’s clothing industry and the rise of the child consumer</i>. Durham, NC: Duke University Press\nCrewe, L. and Collins, P. (2006) Commodifying children: Fashion, space, and the production of the profitable child. <i>Environment and Planning</i>, 38, 7-24\nCrittenden, P.M. (2008) <i>Raising Parents. Attachment: Parenting and child safety</i>. Cullompton, Devon: Willan Publishing\nDavid, M., and Kirkhope, J. (2005) Cloning/stem cells and the meaning of life. <i>Current Sociology</i>, 53, 2, Monograph 1, 368-381\nDepartment for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) (2009) <i>Care Matters: Ministerial Stocktake Report 2009</i>. Nottingham: DCSF\nDepartment for Children, Schools and Families, Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) The Scottish Government (TSG) Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) (2009) <i>Working Together, Achieving More</i>, DCSF: Nottingham\nDepartment for Education and Skills (DfES),(2007) <i>Care Matters: Time for Change</i>. Norwich: TSO\nDepartment for Education and Skills (2005a) <i>Every Child Matters: Aims and outcomes</i>. <a target="_blank" href='http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/aims/'>http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/aims/</a>\nDepartment for Education and Skills (2005b) <i>Every Child Matters: Participation of children and young people</i>. <a target="_blank" href='http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/participation/'>http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/participation/</a>\nDepartment of Health (1991) <i>Child Abuse. A study of inquiry reports 1980-1989</i>. London: HMSO\nDorow, S.K. (2006) <i>Transnational Adoption: A cultural economy of race, gender, and kinship</i>. New York: New York University Press\nErikson, E. (1965) <i>Childhood and Society</i>. Harmondsworth:, Penguin\nEvans, R. and Spicer, N. (2008) Is Participation Prevention? <i>Childhood</i>, 15, 1, 50-73\nFahlberg, V. (1994) (UK ed.) <i>A Child’s Journey through Placement</i>, BAAF: London\nFiorelli, L. and O’Donnell, K. (2004) Trials of being a teenage mother. <i>Blackpool Gazette</i> 27th October, pp.10-11\nFlynn, N. and Hurley, D. (1993) <i>The Market for Care: Public sector management</i>. London: LSE\nFranklin, B. (Ed.)(2002) <i>The New Handbook of Children’s Rights</i>, London: Routledge\nFurlong, A. and Cartmel, F. (2007) <i>Young People and Social Change: new perspectives</i>. (2nd ed.) Maidenhead: Open University Press\nGibbons, B. (2007) <i>A Strategy For Social Services in Wales over the Next Decade; Fulfilled lives, supportive communities</i>. Cardiff: Welsh Assembly Government\nGunter, B. and Furnham, A. (1998) <i>Children as Consumers. A psychological analysis of the young people’s market</i>. London: Routledge\nGutch, R. (1992) <i>Contracting Lessons for the US</i>. London: NCVO\nHill, M. (2006) Children’s voices on ways of having a voice: Children’s and young people’s perspectives on methods used in research and consultation. <i>Childhood</i>, 13, No.1, 69-89\nJohnson, S. and Petrie, S. (2004) Child protection and risk-management: The death of Victoria Climbié’, <i>Journal of Social Policy</i>, 33, 2, 179-202\nJoseph Rowntree Foundation, What are today’s social evils? <a target="_blank" href='http://www.socialevils.org.uk/#'>http://www.socialevils.org.uk/#</a>\nKellmer-Pringle, M. L. (1992) <i>The Needs of Children</i>. (3rd ed.) London: Routledge\nKohli, R.K.S. (2006) The sound of silence: Listening to what unaccompanied asylum-seeking children say and do not say. <i>British Journal of Social Work</i>, 36, 5, 707-721\nLaming Report (2003) <i>The Victoria Climbié Inquiry: report of an inquiry by Lord Laming</i>, Cmnd. 5730. London: HMSO\nLanger, B. (2002) Commodified enchantment: children and consumer capitalism. <i>Thesis Eleven</i>, 69, May, 67-81\nLawy, R and Biesta, G. (2006) Citizenship-as-practice: The educational implications of an inclusive and relational understanding of citizenship. B<i>ritish Journal of Educational Studies</i>, 54, 1, 34-50\nLe Grand, J. (1990) <i>Quasi-Markets and Social Policy</i>. Studies in Decentralization and Quasi-Markets, 1. Bristol: SAUS\nLe Grand, J. (1993) Paying for or providing welfare. in R. Page and N. Deakin (Eds.) <i>The Costs of Welfare</i>. Aldershot: Avebury (pp. 87-106)\nLeonard, P. (1997) <i>Postmodern Welfare: Reconstructing an emancipatory project</i>. London: Sage\nLyon, C., Cobley, C., Petrie, S., and Reid, C. (2003) <i>Child Abuse</i>, (3rd ed.) Bristol: Family Law/Jordans\nMain, S. (2006) <i>Education Committee: Inquiry into early years education and childcare</i>. Written submission from the Association of Directors of Social Work. Edinburgh: ADSW\nMargo, J., and Dixon, M., with Pearce, N. and Reed, H. (2006) <i>Freedom’s Orphans: Raising youth in a changing world</i>. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: ippr, north\nMartens, L., Southern, D., and Scott, S. (2004) Bringing children (and Parents) into the sociology of consumption. <i>Journal of Consumer Culture</i>, 4, 2, 155-182\nMicheli, P., Neely, A., Kennerley, M. (2007) Have performance measurement systems helped or hindered public services? <i>CIMA Insight</i>, April. <a target="_blank" href='http://www.cimaglobal.com/cps/rde/xchg/SID-0AAAC564-496C4CFC/live/root.xsl/Insight052807_2898.htm'>http://www.cimaglobal.com/cps/rde/xchg/SID-0AAAC564-496C4CFC/live/root.xsl/Insight052807_2898.htm</a>\nMiles, S. (1998) <i>Consumerism as a Way of Life</i>. London: Sage\nMitchell, P., Ziegler, F. (2007) <i>Fundamentals of Development: the psychology of childhood</i>. Hove: Psychology Press\nNovak, T., Owen, S., Petrie, S., and Sennett, S. (1997) <i>Children’s Day-care and Welfare Markets: Research study funded by NHS Executive (Northern and Yorkshire)</i>. Hull: University of Lincolnshire and Humberside\nOaklander, V. (1978) <i>Windows to our Children: Gestalt therapy approach to children and adolescents</i>. Highland, NY: Gestalt Journal Press\nOffice of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) (2005) <i>Our Children and Young People – Our Pledge</i>. Belfast: Children and Young People’s Unit\nOfsted (2008) <i>Learning lessons, taking action: Ofsted’s evaluations of serious case reviews 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008</i>. London: Ofsted\nOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2009) <i>Doing Better for Children</i>. Paris: OECD\nOrme, J. (2001) Regulation or fragmentation? Directions for social work under New Labour. <i>British Journal of Social Work</i>, 31, 611-624\nOrme, J. (2002) Social work: Gender, care and justice. <i>British Journal of Social Work</i>, 32, 799-814\nPetrie, S. (1995) <i>Day-care Regulation and Support. Local authorities and day-care under the Children Act 1989</i>. London: Save the Children\nPetrie, S. (2007) Partnership with parents. in A. James and K. Wilson (Eds.) <i>The Child Protection Handbook</i>. (3rd ed.) Elsevier: Edinburgh, (pp.377-379)\nPetrie, S., Hughes, G., and Bennett, K.M. (2006) <i>Report for Blackpool Council on the Educational Achievement of Young Women at Key Stage 4</i>. Liverpool: University of Liverpool\nPetrie, S. and Owen, S. (Eds.) (2005) <i>Authentic Relationships in Group Care for Infants and Toddlers: Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE). Principles into practices</i>. London: Jessica Kingsley\nPetrie, S. and Wilson, K. (1999) Towards the disintegration of child welfare services. <i>Social Policy and Administration</i>, 33, 2, 181-196\nPiaget, J. (1970) (trans. M. Cook) <i>The Origins of Intelligence in Children</i>. New York: International Universities Press\nPlatt, D. (2001) Refocusing children’s services: evaluation of an initial assessment process. <i>Child and Family Social Work</i>, 6, 2, 139-148\nPowell, J. and Gilbert, T. (2006) Performativity and helping professions: Social theory, power and practice. <i>International Journal of Social Welfare</i>, 15, 1-9\nPowell, J. and Owen, T. (2006) Trust’, professional power and social theory lessons from a post-Foucauldian framework. <i>International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy</i>, 26, 3/4, 110-120\nQvortrup, J. (2004) Editorial: The waiting child. <i>Childhood</i>, 11, 3, 267-273\nRobertson, J. and Robertson, J. (1989) <i>Separation and the Very Young</i>. London: Free Association Books\nRoe, W. (2006) <i>Report of the 21st Century Social Work Review</i>. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive\nSeabrook, J. (1985) <i>Landscapes of Poverty</i>. Oxford: Blackwell\nSeale, C., Cavers, D., and Dixon-Woods, M. (2006) Commodification. of body parts: By medicine or by media,. <i>Body and Society</i>, 12, 1, 25-42\nShuster, E. (2003) Human cloning: Category, Dignity, and the role of bioethics. <i>Bioethics</i>, 17, 5-6, 517-525\nSkinner, C. (2003) New Labour and family policy. in M. Bell and K. Wilson <i>The Practitioner’s Guide to Working with Families</i>. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (pp. 19-38)\nSpar, D.L. (2006) <i>The Baby Business: How money, science and politics drive the commerce of conception</i>. Boston: MA: Harvard Business School Publishing\nStatham, J., Dillon, J., and Moss, P. (2001) <i>Placed and Paid For: Supporting families through sponsored day care</i>, London: HMSO\nThe Lord Laming (2009) <i>The Protection of children in England: A Progress Report</i>, London: TSO\nThe Scottish Government (2008) <i>Getting it Right for Every Child</i>. Edinburgh: TSG\nTownley, B. (2001) The Cult of modernity. <i>Financial Accountability and Management</i>, 17, 4, 303-310\nUnited Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2007) <i>Child Poverty in Perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries</i>. Florence: Innocenti Research Centre\nWalklate, S. (1999) Is It Possible To Assess Risk?. in <i>Risk Management: An International Journal</i>, 1, 4, 45-53\nWatson, D. (2002) A Critical perspective on quality within the personal social services: Prospects and concerns,. <i>British Journal of Social Work</i>, 32, 877-891\nWelsh Assembly Government (2004) <i>Children and Young People: Rights to Action</i>. Cardiff: WAG\nWilson, K. and Petrie, S. (1998) No place like home: Lessons learned and lessons forgotten – the Children Act 1948. <i>Child & Family Social Work</i>, 3, 3, 183-188\nWoolfson, R.C., Heffernan, E., Paul, M., and Brown, M. (2009) Young people’s views of the child protection systems in Scotland’, <i>British Journal of Social Work Advance Access</i>, published Oct 2009, 1-17\nYngvesson, B. (2002) Placing the gift child. in transnational adoption. <i>Law & Society Review</i>, 36, 2, 227-256\nYoung, R., and Wistow, G. (1996) Growth and stability for independent sector providers? <i>The Mixed Economy of Care Bulletin</i>, 5, 18-20\n
Downloads
Published
2012-12-20
How to Cite
Petrie, S. (2012). The ‘commodification’ of ‘children in need’ in welfare markets. Social Work and Social Sciences Review, 14(1), 9-26. https://doi.org/10.1921/swssr.v14i1.482
Issue
Section
Articles
License
Copyright lies with the journal. Enquiries regarding reproduction should be sent in the first place to enquiries@whitingbirch.net
