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Leaving children unattended at home: decision‐making on the use of self‐care in Hong Kong
Author(s) -
Hwa Yaw Tam
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
child and family social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-2206
pISSN - 1356-7500
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2206.1998.00072.x
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , independence (probability theory) , argument (complex analysis) , ideology , psychology , child care , social psychology , nursing , medicine , political science , politics , statistics , mathematics , artificial intelligence , computer science , law
This paper examines decisions among low‐income mothers in Hong Kong on the use of self‐care, or the arrangement of leaving children unattended at home. An analysis of individual interviews with 23 mothers, based on a family ecology perspective, highlighted the contexts in which mothers make decisions based on economic, social and technical grounds. Findings showed that self‐care was used with family orientated demands, in spite of the worries and fears associated with the self‐care arrangement. Self‐care was generally favoured when it was felt to be an efficient way of carrying out family and domestic tasks. An argument was also made that self‐care encouraged appropriate independence in children. Nevertheless, mothers recognised the risks involved in self‐care and planned to minimise the potential dangers of young children being left unattended. The views of the children themselves, as well as their fathers, often influenced the care arrangements made by mothers. Social policies in relation to unattended children are also examined. This analysis reveals ideological assumptions about the nature of good parenting that places great pressure on mothers to fulfil their responsibilities even though they often lack adequate economic, social and technical support. Rather than deploy deterrent legal measures, it is suggested that social measures, including the provision of `family life education', occasional child care services and enhancement of community support, be developed to help parents carry out their child‐rearing roles effectively.