E-Book Overview
This volume explores the concept of responsibility in family life, law and practice. The authors examine the distinctions between rights, obligations and responsibilities in their moral, social and legal forms. Divided into four parts, the study considers the nature of family responsibility, constructions of children's responsibilities, shifting conceptions of family responsibilities and family, responsibility and the law. The collection brings together some of the leading experts from the disciplines of sociology, socio-legal studies and law to explore moral, social and legal responsibilities prior to birth, to children, of children, and of the state towards family members. The volume seeks to inform and challenge the developing conceptualization of responsibilities which arise in interdependent, intimate and caring relationships and their legal regulation. The book will be of interest to researchers and practitioners working in this complex field.Jo Bridgeman, Heather Keating and Craig Lind are Senior Lecturers in Law in the Sussex Law School. Jo Bridgeman's research employs feminist legal theory to analyse the law relating to care of children. Craig Lind's research interests are in the areas of gender and sexuality, children in law, and family regulation across cultural divides. Heather Keating's research focuses upon the criminal law relating to children both as offenders and victims.
E-Book Content
RESPONSIBILITY, LAW AND THE FAMILY
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Responsibility, Law and the Family
Edited by JO BRIDGEMAN, HEATHER KEATING and CRAIG LIND University of Sussex, UK
© Jo Bridgeman, Heather Keating and Craig Lind 2008 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. Jo Bridgeman, Heather Keating and Craig Lind have asserted their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the editors of this work. Published by Ashgate Publishing Limited Gower House Croft Road Aldershot Hampshire GU11 3HR England
Ashgate Publishing Company Suite 420 101 Cherry Street Burlington, VT 05401-4405 USA
www.ashgate.com British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Responsibility, law and the family 1. Parent and child (Law) - England 2. Parent and child (Law) - Wales 3. Responsibility 4. Parenting - Government policy - England 5. Parenting - Government policy - Wales I. Bridgeman, Jo II. Lind, Craig III. Keating, Heather M. 346.4'2017 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Responsibility, law, and the family / [edited] by Jo Bridgeman, Craig Lind, and Heather Keating. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-0-7546-7109-1 1. Parent and child (Law)--England. 2. Parent and child (Law)--Wales. 3. Responsibility. 4. Parenting--Government policy--England. 5. Parenting--Government policy--Wales. I. Bridgeman, Jo. II. Lind, Craig. III. Keating, Heather M. KD772.R47 2008 346.4201'7--dc22 2008010606 ISBN 978-0-7546-7109-1
Contents List of Contributors Preface
vii xi
1
Introduction: Conceptualising Family Responsibility Jo Bridgeman and Heather Keating
PART 1
THE NATURE OF FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY
2
The Right to Responsible Parents Michael Freeman
3
Together Forever? The Rights and Responsibilities of Adult Children and their Parents Jonathan Herring
41
Being a Responsible Mother: New Labour Policy Discourses versus Lone Mothers’ Contextualised Accounts Harriet Churchill
63
4
5
1
21
State Responsibility and the Abuse of Vulnerable Older People: Is there a Case for a Public Law to Protect Vulnerabl