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LATCHKEY CHILDREN AND AFTER‐SCHOOL CARE: A FEMINIST DILEMMA?
Author(s) -
Flynn Clifton P.,
Rodman Hyman
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
review of policy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1541-1338
pISSN - 1541-132X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-1338.1989.tb00987.x
Subject(s) - dilemma , opposition (politics) , suspect , perspective (graphical) , argument (complex analysis) , child care , unintended consequences , psychology , nursing , social psychology , political science , medicine , criminology , law , philosophy , epistemology , artificial intelligence , politics , computer science
Many children of working parents regularly care for themselves after school. Questionable findings about the danger of children's self‐care (latchkey) arrangements are being used in an effort to obtain public funding for after‐school care. The use of this evidence poses a dilemma for feminists and others. Arguing that latchkey children are at risk may improve the chances of receiving funds for child care. But it could also lead to unintended negative consequences for women. Emphasizing the risks of self‐care could result in greater social opposition to working mothers. From a feminist perspective, the best argument for after‐school care would be one that focuses on the special needs and circumstances of working parents, and does not rely on suspect data that suggest negative consequences of self‐care for children's development.