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New Zealand children in the 1990s: beneficiaries of New Right economic policy? Atwool, Nicola R.

By: Material type: ArticleArticleSeries: Children & SocietyPublication details: Hoboken, NJ John Wiley & Sons 1999ISSN:
  • 1099-0860
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Contents:
This article discusses the impact of the New Right economic policies on children and, in particular, questions the extent to which children have benefited from such restructuring. It argues that the invisibility of children, the role of public concern abo
In: Children & Society 13(5) November 1999 : 380-393Summary: This article discusses the impact of the New Right economic policies on children and, in particular, questions the extent to which children have benefited from such restructuring. It argues that the invisibility of children, the role of public concern about children and the social construction of childhood are factors that have facilitated implementation of these changes. A number of theoretical positions are presented to illustrate the author's viewpoint. Statistics given in terms of referrals to child protection agencies indicated an increase, and reported crime against children between 1991 and 1994 had more than doubled. The author depicts children as passive recipients with no voice who exist in an adult dominated society. It is suggested that if we are to counteract micro and macro forces that ignore children, it is essential that their voices be heard. Rather than focusing on either the micro level of intervention in the lives of individual children or the macro level of societal change, the author argues that the dualism itself must be transcended in order to move forward from the current position.
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Children & Society 13(5) November 1999 : 380-393

This article discusses the impact of the New Right economic policies on children and, in particular, questions the extent to which children have benefited from such restructuring. It argues that the invisibility of children, the role of public concern abo

This article discusses the impact of the New Right economic policies on children and, in particular, questions the extent to which children have benefited from such restructuring. It argues that the invisibility of children, the role of public concern about children and the social construction of childhood are factors that have facilitated implementation of these changes. A number of theoretical positions are presented to illustrate the author's viewpoint. Statistics given in terms of referrals to child protection agencies indicated an increase, and reported crime against children between 1991 and 1994 had more than doubled. The author depicts children as passive recipients with no voice who exist in an adult dominated society. It is suggested that if we are to counteract micro and macro forces that ignore children, it is essential that their voices be heard. Rather than focusing on either the micro level of intervention in the lives of individual children or the macro level of societal change, the author argues that the dualism itself must be transcended in order to move forward from the current position.