Horsley, Nicola, Gillies, Val and Edwards, Rosalind 2020. ‘We’ve got a file on you’: problematising families in poverty in four periods of austerity. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice. 28 (2), pp. 227-244. https://doi.org/10.1332/175982720x15791324075050
| Title | ‘We’ve got a file on you’: problematising families in poverty in four periods of austerity |
|---|---|
| Type | Journal article |
| Authors | Horsley, Nicola, Gillies, Val and Edwards, Rosalind |
| Abstract | This article considers a genealogy of the governing by data of families in poverty; a case study of the codification of disadvantaged families and problematisation of their difficulties over the course of a century and a half. Influenced by Bacchi’s ‘what the problem is represented to be’ approach, we explore a genealogy of the micro acts of ruling that reveal the practice of constructing and governing of disadvantaged families. We draw on a case study analysis of materials recorded and collected by the Charity Organisation Society and its subsequent guises, during four major periods of recession in Britain, from the late 19th century to the early 21st century. We outline the ‘problematisation’ approach to governance that underpins our discussion before describing the administrative records with which we worked. We argue that the genealogy of the construction, positioning and governance of poor families over time in this case may be observed in terms of three key shifts in problematisation: (i) from the identification of deservingness towards the assessment of risk; (ii) from a gendered concentration of parents to the perceived needs of children; and (iii) from consultation of authority figures to a reliance on increasingly ‘professionalised’ data capture tools. |
| Keywords | Public Administration |
| Sociology and Political Science | |
| Journal | Journal of Poverty and Social Justice |
| Journal citation | 28 (2), pp. 227-244 |
| ISSN | 1759-8273 |
| Year | 2020 |
| Publisher | Bristol University Press |
| Accepted author manuscript | File Access Level Open (open metadata and files) |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1332/175982720x15791324075050 |
| Publication dates | |
| Published online | 11 May 2020 |
| Published in print | 01 Jun 2020 |
The Sociologist's Wife
Gillies, V. 2024. The Sociologist's Wife.
Family Policy and the Data Revolution
Gillies, V. and Edwards, R. 2024. Family Policy and the Data Revolution. in: Bochel, H.M. and Powell, M. (ed.) The Conservative Governments and Social Policy Bristol Bristol University Press. pp. 225-242
#ThanksForTyping … and the fieldwork: the role of sociologists’ wives in classic British studies
Edwards, R. and Gillies, V. 2024. #ThanksForTyping … and the fieldwork: the role of sociologists’ wives in classic British studies. Serendipities. 9 (1), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.7146/serendipities.v9i1.138589
Calibrating families: Data behaviourism and the new algorithmic logic
Gillies, V., Edwards, R. and Vannier Ducasse, H. 2024. Calibrating families: Data behaviourism and the new algorithmic logic. Zeitschrift für Sozialreform / Journal of Social Policy Research. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1515/zsr-2024-0008
The moral, the political and social licence in digitally-driven family policy and intervention: Parents negotiating experiential knowledge and ‘other’ families
Edwards, V., Gillies, V., Vannier Ducasse, H. and Gorin, S. 2024. The moral, the political and social licence in digitally-driven family policy and intervention: Parents negotiating experiential knowledge and ‘other’ families. Social Policy and Administration. 58 (5), pp. 856-869. https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12997
Pre-problem families: predictive analytics and the future as the present
Edwards, Rosalind, Gillies, Val, Gorin, Sarah and Vannier-Ducasse, Hélène 2024. Pre-problem families: predictive analytics and the future as the present. Families, Relationships and Societies. 13 (2), pp. 198-214. https://doi.org/10.1332/20467435y2024d000000013
‘Seen’ through records: parents’ access to children’s social care records in an age of increasing datafication
Gorin, S., Edwards, R., Gillies, V. and Vannier ducasse, H. 2023. ‘Seen’ through records: parents’ access to children’s social care records in an age of increasing datafication. British Journal of Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad192
Problem-solving for problem-solving: Data analytics to identify families for service intervention
Edwards, R., Gillies, V. and Gorin, S. 2022. Problem-solving for problem-solving: Data analytics to identify families for service intervention. Critical Social Policy. 47 (2), pp. 265-284. https://doi.org/10.1177/02610183211020294
Data linkage for early intervention in the UK: Parental social license and social divisions
Edwards, R., Gillies, V. and Gorin, S. 2021. Data linkage for early intervention in the UK: Parental social license and social divisions. Data and Policy. 3 e34. https://doi.org/10.1017/dap.2021.34
(M)othering and the politics of early intervention
Gillies, V. and Edwards, R. 2020. (M)othering and the politics of early intervention. in: Portier-Le Cocq, F. (ed.) Motherhood in Contemporary International Perspective: Continuity and Change Abingdon Routledge. pp. 18-32
(M)othering and the politics of early intervention: biologisation and the reproduction of gendered, classed and raced inequalities
Gillies, V. and Edwards, R. 2020. (M)othering and the politics of early intervention: biologisation and the reproduction of gendered, classed and raced inequalities. Revue des politiques sociales et familiales. 135, pp. 6-19.
Parallels and ruptures in the neoliberal intensive parenting regime
Gillies, V. 2020. Parallels and ruptures in the neoliberal intensive parenting regime. Families, Relationships and Societies. 9 (1), pp. 169-172. https://doi.org/10.1332/204674319X15592172099833
All the ACEs: A Chaotic Concept for Family Policy and Decision-Making?
Gillies, V., White, S. and Edwards, R. 2019. All the ACEs: A Chaotic Concept for Family Policy and Decision-Making? Social Policy and Society. 18 (3), pp. 457-466. https://doi.org/10.1017/S147474641900006X
Troubling Children’s Families: Who’s Troubled and Why? Approaches to Inter-Cultural Dialogue
Ribbens McCarthy, J and Gillies, V. 2018. Troubling Children’s Families: Who’s Troubled and Why? Approaches to Inter-Cultural Dialogue. Sociological Research Online. 23 (1), pp. 219-244. https://doi.org/10.1177/1360780417746871
Researchers' reflections on interviewing policy makers and practitioners: Feeling conflicted in critical research
Nicola Horsley, Val Gillies and Rosalind Edwards 2017. Researchers' reflections on interviewing policy makers and practitioners: Feeling conflicted in critical research. Women's Studies International Forum. 61 (March–April), pp. 108-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2016.07.001
Challenging the politics of early intervention: who's 'saving' children and why
Gillies, V., Edwards, R. and Horsley, N. 2017. Challenging the politics of early intervention: who's 'saving' children and why. Bristol Policy Press.
'What about the children?' Re-engineering citizens of the future
Gillies, V. 2017. 'What about the children?' Re-engineering citizens of the future . in: Pykett, J., Jones, R. and Whitehead, M. (ed.) Psychological Governance and Public Policy Abingdon Routledge.
Family policy: the Mods and Rockers
Edwards, Rosalind and Gillies, Val 2016. Family policy: the Mods and Rockers. in: The Coalition Government and Social Policy: Restructuring the Welfare State Policy Press. pp. 243–264
Dynamics of disadvantage: race, gender and class
Val Gillies 2016. Dynamics of disadvantage: race, gender and class. in: Pushed to the edge: Inclusion and behaviour support in schools Policy Press.
“Ain’t doing tramp’s work”: educational marginalisation and imagined futures
Gillies, Val 2016. “Ain’t doing tramp’s work”: educational marginalisation and imagined futures. in: Gilles, Val (ed.) Pushed to the edge: Inclusion and behaviour support in schools Policy Press.
Disciplining pupils: from exclusion to ‘inclusion’
Gillies, Val 2016. Disciplining pupils: from exclusion to ‘inclusion’. in: Pushed to the edge: Inclusion and behaviour support in schools Policy Press.
The politics of exclusion
Gillies, Val 2016. The politics of exclusion. in: Pushed to the edge: Inclusion and behaviour support in schools Policy Press.
Damaged boys, needy girls
Gillies, Val 2016. Damaged boys, needy girls. in: Pushed to the edge: Inclusion and behaviour support in schools Policy Press.
‘Yo momma …’: foregrounding families
Gillies, Val 2016. ‘Yo momma …’: foregrounding families. in: Gillies, Val (ed.) Pushed to the edge: Inclusion and behaviour support in schools Policy Press. pp. 123-150
Contextualising challenging behaviour
Gillies, Val 2016. Contextualising challenging behaviour. in: Pushed to the edge: Inclusion and behaviour support in schools Policy Press. pp. 51–76
Brave new brains: sociology, family and the politics of knowledge
Gillies, V., Edwards, R. and Horsley, N. 2016. Brave new brains: sociology, family and the politics of knowledge. Sociological Review. 64 (2), p. 219–237. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-954X.12374
Pushed to the Edge: Inclusion and Behaviour Support in Schools
Gillies, V. 2016. Pushed to the Edge: Inclusion and Behaviour Support in Schools. Bristol Policy Press.
Early intervention and evidence-based policy and practice: framing and taming
Edwards, R., Gillies, V. and Horsley, N. 2015. Early intervention and evidence-based policy and practice: framing and taming. Social Policy and Society. 15 (1), pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746415000081
Brain science and early years policy: Hopeful ethos or ‘cruel optimism’?
Edwards, R., Gillies, V. and Horsley, N. 2015. Brain science and early years policy: Hopeful ethos or ‘cruel optimism’? Critical Social Policy. 35 (2), pp. 167-187. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018315574020
Troubling families: parenting and the politics of early intervention
Gillies, V. 2014. Troubling families: parenting and the politics of early intervention. in: Wagg, S. and Pilcher, J. (ed.) Thatcher’s Grandchildren? Politics and Childhood in the Twenty-First Century London Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 204-224
Troubling normalities and normal family troubles: diversities, experiences and tensions
Ribbens McCarthy, Jane, Hooper, Carol-Ann and Gillies, Val 2013. Troubling normalities and normal family troubles: diversities, experiences and tensions. in: Family troubles? Exploring changes and challenges in the family lives of children and young people Policy Press. pp. 1–21
Personalising Poverty: Parental Determinism and the Big Society Agenda
Gillies, Val 2013. Personalising Poverty: Parental Determinism and the Big Society Agenda. in: Atkinson, W., Roberts, S. and Savage, M. (ed.) Class Inequality in Austerity Britain: Power, Difference and Suffering Springer. pp. 90-110
‘Inclusion’ Through Exclusion: A Critical Account of New Behaviour Management Practices in Schools
Gillies, Val 2012. ‘Inclusion’ Through Exclusion: A Critical Account of New Behaviour Management Practices in Schools. in: Educational Diversity: The Subject of Difference and Different Subjects Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 17–35
‘Including’ while excluding: race, class and behaviour support units
Gillies, Val and Robinson, Yvonne 2012. ‘Including’ while excluding: race, class and behaviour support units. Race Ethnicity and Education. 15 (2), pp. 157-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2011.578126
Farewell to family? A reply
Edwards, Rosalind and Gillies, Val 2012. Farewell to family? A reply. Families, Relationships and Societies. 1 (3), p. 431–434. https://doi.org/10.1332/204674312x656338
Farewell to family? Notes on an argument for retaining the concept
Edwards, Rosalind and Gillies, Val 2012. Farewell to family? Notes on an argument for retaining the concept. Families, Relationships and Societies. 1 (1), p. 63–69. https://doi.org/10.1332/204674312x633162
Eliciting Research Accounts: Re/Producing Modern Subjects?
Alldred, Pam and Gillies, Val 2012. Eliciting Research Accounts: Re/Producing Modern Subjects? Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473913912.n10
Family Policy and the Politics of Parenting: From Function to Competence
Gillies, Val 2012. Family Policy and the Politics of Parenting: From Function to Competence. in: The Politicization of Parenthood: Shifting private and public responsibilities in education and child rearing Springer. pp. 13–26
Social and emotional pedagogies: critiquing the new orthodoxy of emotion in classroom behaviour management
Gillies, Val 2011. Social and emotional pedagogies: critiquing the new orthodoxy of emotion in classroom behaviour management. British Journal of Sociology of Education. 32 (2), pp. 185-202. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2011.547305
Clients or consumers, commonplace or pioneers? Navigating the contemporary class politics of family, parenting skills and education
Edwards, Rosalind and Gillies, Val 2011. Clients or consumers, commonplace or pioneers? Navigating the contemporary class politics of family, parenting skills and education. Ethics and Education. 6 (2), pp. 141-154. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449642.2011.622982
From Function to Competence: Engaging with the New Politics of Family
Gillies, Val 2011. From Function to Competence: Engaging with the New Politics of Family. Sociological Research Online. 16 (4). https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.2393
Managing emotions in research with challenging pupils
Gillies, Val and Robinson, Yvonne 2010. Managing emotions in research with challenging pupils. Ethnography and Education. 5 (1), pp. 97-110. https://doi.org/10.1080/17457821003768497
Including and excluding: exploring gendered and racialised constructions of risk and vulnerability in the classroom
Gillies, Val and Robinson, Yvonne 2010. Including and excluding: exploring gendered and racialised constructions of risk and vulnerability in the classroom. Race Equality Teaching. 29 (1), pp. 9-13.
Teaching and Learning Guide for: Childrearing, Class and the New Politics of Parenting
Gillies, Val 2009. Teaching and Learning Guide for: Childrearing, Class and the New Politics of Parenting. Sociology Compass. 3 (2), pp. 341-344. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9020.2008.00181.x
Introduction
Gillies, Val and Lucey, Helen 2007. Introduction. in: Power, Knowledge and the Academy: The Institutional is Political Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 1-15
Making the Right Connections: ‘Knowledge’ and Power in Academic Networking
Gillies, Val and Alldred, Pam 2007. Making the Right Connections: ‘Knowledge’ and Power in Academic Networking. in: Power, Knowledge and the Academy: The Institutional is Political Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 105–121
Marginalised Mothers: Exploring Working Class Experiences
Gillies, V. 2007. Marginalised Mothers: Exploring Working Class Experiences. London Routledge.
Working class mothers and school life: exploring the role of emotional capital
Gillies, V. 2006. Working class mothers and school life: exploring the role of emotional capital. Gender and Education. 18 (3), pp. 281-293. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540250600667876
‘It's a connection you can't get away from’: Brothers, Sisters and Social Capital
Gillies, Val and Lucey, Helen 2006. ‘It's a connection you can't get away from’: Brothers, Sisters and Social Capital. Journal of Youth Studies. 9 (4), pp. 479-493. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676260600914549
Meeting parents’ needs? Discourses of ‘support’ and ‘inclusion’ in family policy
Gillies, Val 2005. Meeting parents’ needs? Discourses of ‘support’ and ‘inclusion’ in family policy. Critical Social Policy. 25 (1), p. 70–90. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018305048968
Raising the ‘Meritocracy’
Gillies, Val 2005. Raising the ‘Meritocracy’. Sociology. 39 (5), p. 835–853. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038505058368
Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks
Gillies, Val 2004. Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks. Sociologija. 46 (3), pp. 245-258. https://doi.org/10.2298/soc0403245g
Families, Intimacy and Social Capital
Holland, Janet, Weeks, Jeffrey and Gillies, Val 2003. Families, Intimacy and Social Capital. Social Policy and Society. 2 (4), pp. 339 - 348. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1474746403001398
Past/Present/Future: Time and the Meaning of Change in the ‘Family’
Gillies, Val, Holland, Janet and Ribbens McCarthy, Jane 2003. Past/Present/Future: Time and the Meaning of Change in the ‘Family’. in: Social Relations and the Life Course: Age Generation and Social Change Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 33–48
The Ethics of Intention: Research As A Political Tool
Gillies, Val and Alldred, Pam 2002. The Ethics of Intention: Research As A Political Tool. Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781849209090.n2
Moral Tales of the Child and the Adult: Narratives of Contemporary Family Lives under Changing Circumstances
Ribbens McCarthy, Jane, Edwards, Rosalind and Gillies, Val 2000. Moral Tales of the Child and the Adult: Narratives of Contemporary Family Lives under Changing Circumstances. Sociology. 24 (4), pp. 785-803. https://doi.org/10.1017/s003803850000047x
Shifting Boundaries and Power in the Research Process: the Example of Researching ‘step-Families’
Edwards, Rosalind, Ribbens, Jane and Gillies, Val 1999. Shifting Boundaries and Power in the Research Process: the Example of Researching ‘step-Families’. in: Relating Intimacies: Power and Resistance Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 13-42
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