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Seminar launch for 'Supernanny'
Standing up to Supernanny, a new book that unflinchingly challenges the cult of 'parent-blaming', in which parents are held directly responsible for everything from youth crime to the crisis in education, will be launched at the University of Kent organised 'Child-rearing in a risk society' seminar at Aston University on 17 September.
The book, which was written by journalist and social commentator Jennie Bristow, features nine contributions from academics, journalists and mothers involved in the contemporary parenting debate. Contributors include: Dr Ellie Lee, lecturer in sociology at the University of Kent and co-ordinator of Parenting Culture Studies; Dr Jan MacVarish, a Research Associate at the University of Kent, with interests in the sociology of interpersonal relationships, parenting, family life, sex and intimacy; Christina Hardyment, author of Dream Babies: Childcare Advice from John Locke to Gina Ford; Jennifer Howze, editor of The Times's parenting blog Alphamummy; Jane Sandeman, convenor of the Institute of Ideas Parents' Forum; and Zoe Williams, columnist for The Guardian.
Standing up to Supernanny will be published by Imprint Academic on 16 September.
Jennie Bristow, who previously co-authored with Professor Frank Furedi a critical report on child protection policies, police vetting and CRB checks (Licenced to Hug, Civitas, 2008), explained that her principal motivation for writing the book 'is to put an end to the "parent wars" that make bringing up children today so hard to do'. She added: 'Books, websites and TV shows bombard us with advice about every aspect of bringing up children, and politicians blame us for everything they think we get wrong. This creates a terrible pressure on parents, and a conflict between us. Parents need to have faith in themselves and support each other, rather than competing over 'parenting techniques' and trying to follow instructions from self-styled experts.'
Standing up to Supernanny further argues that: the official concerns and campaigns about children's health, wellbeing and behaviour are massively overstated; policymakers are blaming parents for a raft of social problems that have nothing to do with 'good' or 'bad' parenting; and that 'child-centred' parenting culture is the result of adults' own anxieties about behaving like grown-ups, and is damaging family life.
Dr Jan Macvarish, whose involvement in research with teenage parents has led her to question the way they are represented in policy discussions, said: 'Standing Up To Supernanny is a timely critique of a policy framework that tends to promote rigid ideas about what makes a good parent and assumes that some parents are not up to the job of raising their children without intensive scrutiny and intervention from professionals.'
The 'Child-rearing in a risk society' seminar at Aston University 16 - 17 September will consider the way fear about the trustworthiness of adults in general has contributed to the erosion of community and how this has left parents more isolated in child-rearing. The second day will look at motherhood, with a focus on the provision of information to pregnant women and new mothers.
Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk
Story published at 3:30pm 24 August 2009