THE PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT OF CHILDREN - TOWARDS A FRAMEWORK FOR ANTI-OPPRESSIVE, CROSS-CULTURAL AND CROSS-NATIONAL UNDERSTANDING

The article explores the strengths and limitations of existing cross-cultural, cross-national and anti-discriminatory theory and research in the child protection field. The way in which structural, cultural, personal and inter-personal factors combine to create the child's protective environment is analysed and a framework for an integrated approach to anti-oppressive understanding and practice is suggested. The framework identifies four factors whose impact at national, community and family levels needs particular consideration. These factors are the value attached to children, the status of women and carers, the social interconnectedness of children and carers, and the extent and quality of the protective safety nets available. Examples are provided to illustrate the framework's usefulness in practice. It is argued that child protection theory and practice in Britain needs to take more account of collective and community-based approaches if anti-oppressive and user-empowering practice is to be achieved.