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Negotiating stigma: Understanding mothers' responses to accusations of child neglect

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  • Sykes, Jennifer

Abstract

Current child protective service policies encourage family preservation and reunification. Yet little is known about how mothers accused of child neglect experience being labeled neglectful or how this influences compliance with child protective services (CPS) service plans. This paper reports the results of a case study of mothers' perceptions of being labeled neglectful. Drawing on symbolic interactionist theories of identity, interviews with sixteen mothers and sixteen child protective service caseworkers, and content analysis of interview data obtained, this paper describes the strategies mothers employ to resist the stigma of being labeled a neglectful mother, strategies that ultimately put them at odds with child protection goals. Findings suggest that mothers' identity preservation and maintenance have powerful implications for CPS policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Sykes, Jennifer, 2011. "Negotiating stigma: Understanding mothers' responses to accusations of child neglect," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 448-456, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:33:y:2011:i:3:p:448-456
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Soffer-Elnekave, Ruth & Haight, Wendy & Jader, Bailey, 2020. "Parent mentoring relationships as a vehicle for reducing racial disparities: Experiences of child welfare-involved parents, mentors and professionals," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Kemp, Susan P. & Marcenko, Maureen O. & Lyons, Sandra J. & Kruzich, Jean M., 2014. "Strength-based practice and parental engagement in child welfare services: An empirical examination," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P1), pages 27-35.
    3. LaBrenz, Catherine A. & Littleton, Tenesha & Shipe, Stacey L. & Bai, Rong & Stargel, Lauren, 2023. "State policies on child maltreatment and racial disproportionality," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Pelton, Leroy H., 2011. "Concluding commentary: Varied perspectives on child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 481-485, March.
    5. Kenny, Kathleen S. & Barrington, Clare, 2018. "“People just don't look at you the same way”: Public stigma, private suffering and unmet social support needs among mothers who use drugs in the aftermath of child removal," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 209-216.
    6. Ylva B. Almquist & Viviane S. Straatmann, 2022. "Drivers of Inequalities among Families Involved with Child Welfare Services: A General Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-3, June.
    7. Fong, Kelley, 2017. "Child welfare involvement and contexts of poverty: The role of parental adversities, social networks, and social services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 5-13.
    8. Haight, Wendy & Sugrue, Erin & Calhoun, Molly & Black, James, 2017. "“Basically, I look at it like combat”: Reflections on moral injury by parents involved with child protection services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 477-489.

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