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- Title
Marginalized Mothers, Reproductive Autonomy, and 'Repeat Losses To Care'.
- Authors
Cox, Pamela
- Abstract
Over 70,000 children are 'looked after' by local authorities in England and Wales. Emerging research suggests that a significant proportion of their birth parents have either already lost a child to permanent adoption or will go on to lose others. These 'repeat loss' cases raise difficult questions about marginalized mothers and their reproductive autonomy. This article considers past and present tactics used by the state in its attempts to limit that autonomy, including institutionalization, sterilization, long-acting contraception, and permanent adoption. It argues that the gradual democratization of intimate citizenship over the past century, defined as a person's ability to choose and direct their intimate relationships, has obliged the contemporary state to develop new tactics which aim to build personal capacity and to balance enhanced child protection with enhanced reproductive autonomy.
- Subjects
WALES; ENGLAND; ADOPTION; MOTHERS -- Social aspects; CHILD care; CHILD protection services; POLITICAL autonomy
- Publication
Journal of Law & Society, 2012, Vol 39, Issue 4, p541
- ISSN
0263-323X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1467-6478.2012.00599.x