Inequality matters for child welfare

There is a growing recognition across the political spectrum that the spectacular growth in inequality over the last 30 years in the UK poses serious issues for individual well-being and social cohesion. This research, by... [ view full abstract ]

There is a growing recognition across the political spectrum that the spectacular growth in inequality over the last 30 years in the UK poses serious issues for individual well-being and social cohesion. This research, by interrogating the relationship between inequality and poverty, highlights the urgency of attending to the social contexts within which poverty is experienced. A number of research studies suggest that tackling inequality would make a significant contribution to reducing the harms that children experience. However, this research evidence continues to be ignored by policy makers and has not been engaged with by the researchers influential with such policy makers,

In this presentation the evidence on the links between inequality and child maltreatment is explored. The presentation then presents some preliminary findings from ongoing work on how multiple narratives might be framed that appeal to researchers and policy makers in order to encourage research and policy action in this area.

Abstract: This abstract is submitted as part of a symposium entitled: Beyond poverty: inequity in child welfare, led by Paul Bywaters and Brid Featherstone