Manufacturing ghost fathers: the paradox of father presence and absence in child welfare Export

@article{citeulike:3888391, abstract = {Fathers exist in the lives of women and children involved with child welfare authorities, and yet, they are rarely seen by child welfare. This invisibility exists whether or not fathers are deemed as risks or as assets to their families. Using an analysis of fundamental child welfare policies and practices and relevant literature, the paper examines how 'ghost' fathers are manufactured, and how this phenomenon affects families and professionals in child welfare. An analysis of gender, class, race and culture of child welfare discourses shows how these fathers are seen as deviant, dangerous, irresponsible and irrelevant, and even further, how absence in child welfare is inextricably linked to blaming mothers. In failing to work with fathers, child welfare ignores potential risks and assets for both mothers and children.}, address = {Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Human and Social Development, ; Professor Emeritus, ; Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Victoria, Victoria, ; Associate Professor, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada, and ; Professor of Applied Social Sciences and Academician in the Academy of Learned Societies for Social Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.}, author = {Brown, Leslie and Callahan, Marilyn and Strega, Susan and Walmsley, Christopher and Dominelli, Lena}, citeulike-article-id = {3888391}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00578.x}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/121624984/ABSTRACT}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00578.x}, journal = {Child \& Family Social Work}, keywords = {childcare, diversity, family, welfare}, number = {1}, pages = {25--34}, posted-at = {2009-01-15 12:25:08}, priority = {2}, title = {Manufacturing ghost fathers: the paradox of father presence and absence in child welfare}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00578.x}, volume = {14}, year = {2009} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3888391 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3888391 N2 - Fathers exist in the lives of women and children involved with child welfare authorities, and yet, they are rarely seen by child welfare. This invisibility exists whether or not fathers are deemed as risks or as assets to their families. Using an analysis of fundamental child welfare policies and practices and relevant literature, the paper examines how 'ghost' fathers are manufactured, and how this phenomenon affects families and professionals in child welfare. An analysis of gender, class, race and culture of child welfare discourses shows how these fathers are seen as deviant, dangerous, irresponsible and irrelevant, and even further, how absence in child welfare is inextricably linked to blaming mothers. In failing to work with fathers, child welfare ignores potential risks and assets for both mothers and children. IS - 1 JF - Child & Family Social Work AD - Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Human and Social Development, ; Professor Emeritus, ; Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Victoria, Victoria, ; Associate Professor, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada, and ; Professor of Applied Social Sciences and Academician in the Academy of Learned Societies for Social Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK. EP - 34 TI - Manufacturing ghost fathers: the paradox of father presence and absence in child welfare VL - 14 SP - 25 KW - childcare KW - diversity KW - family KW - welfare AU - Brown, Leslie AU - Callahan, Marilyn AU - Strega, Susan AU - Walmsley, Christopher AU - Dominelli, Lena PY - 2009/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00578.x ER -