Gendered Power in Child Welfare: What's Care Got to Do with It?

Christa Jane Moore and Patricia Gagné argue that the child welfare system in Kentucky and other states is based on masculine values that were institutionalized long before women had the right to vote, hold public office, or have a voice in public law and policy. They argue for reforms that focus on metric outcomes and more feminized orientations that hearken back to the earliest extensions of community-centered care for those most vulnerable, especially children with protective needs.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

In Gendered Power in Child Welfare: Whats Care Got to Do with It?, Christa Jane Moore and Patricia Gagné make a compelling argument that the child welfare system in Kentucky and other states is deeply rooted in masculine values that predate the granting of voting rights to women, the holding of public office, and the ability to influence public law and policy. The authors draw upon feminist and organizational theories to support their claims, utilizing a combination of primary qualitative data and secondary statistics to illustrate the historical and ongoing challenges faced by care workers within the child welfare system.

Throughout the work, the authors advocate for significant reforms aimed at creating more feminized orientations that harken back to the earliest origins of community-centered care for those most vulnerable, particularly children with protective needs. They argue that the current bureaucratic child welfare system, which prioritizes quantitative outcomes, inadvertently hinders the efforts of care workers and perpetuates gender biases. By highlighting the historical roots of these issues and advocating for transformative change, the authors aim to improve the well-being of children and families involved in the child welfare system.

This book is a valuable contribution to the field of child welfare, shedding light on the complex interplay of gender, power, and bureaucracy in shaping child welfare practices. It provides a thoughtful analysis of the historical and contemporary challenges faced by care workers and offers practical solutions for promoting gender equality and enhancing the outcomes of child welfare interventions.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 237 x 157 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793630667