Children’s standpoint on vulnerability : implications for social work practice with children and young people

Gabrielle Drake, Jan Falloon, Tobia Fattore, Rhea Felton, Jan Mason, Lise Mogensen

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperChapter

Abstract

The starting premise of this chapter is the insight made by some theorists of vulnerability, that responses to vulnerability should, to the greatest extent possible promote the agency of others through non-paternalistic forms of care. We use this as an injunction to discuss the role of vulnerability as a dimension of children’s well-being. Drawing upon two multi-stage qualitative studies with children, 8–16 years, in New South Wales Australia, on children’s well-being, the chapter proceeds by discussing the relationship between vulnerability and autonomy in children’s discussions of what is important to their well-being. We suggest, from an analysis of children’s discussions of safety, that safety is associated with well-being when it also promotes a sense of autonomy. We discuss two aspects of safety—‘rule safety’ and ‘metaphorical safety’, as autonomy promoting. We go on to show, from children’s discussion of self-determination, that expressions of self-determination important to children’s well-being include children providing care to others (practical care) and demonstrating concern about other people and causes (abstract care). We discuss some implications of the interrelatedness between protection/autonomy and self-determination/care for social work theory and practice, arguing that social work practice with children must provide opportunities for self-determination and secondly, that children, as well as being care recipients (those being protected) must also be recognised as being agents who have the capacity to care, and that this is often an expression of their self-determination.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of Children’s Risk, Vulnerability and Quality of Life: Global Perspectives
EditorsHabib Tiliouine, Denise Benatuil, Maggie K. W. Lau
Place of PublicationSwitzerland
PublisherSpringer
Pages391-407
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9783031017834
ISBN (Print)9783031017827
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

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