Donzelot Policying The Family

• •Perverse incentives – the idea, held by many New Right thinkers, that many social policies reward irresponsible behaviour.
• •Surveillance – observation of a person or group in order to gather information about them.•
• Donzelot


  Donzelot draws on the work of Foucault.

  Foucault (1976) discusses the topic of surveillance (observing and monitoring people). He argues that power is not just held by government but throughout society through surveillance by professionals.
• An alternative view: Donzelot


  •He is interested in how professionals carry out surveillance of the family. Social workers, doctors and health visitors use their knowledge to control and ‘police’ families.
• An alternative view: Donzelot

  •Rejects the functionalists’ march of progress view that social policy has created a better society.
• An alternative view: Donzelot

  •Surveillance is targeted particularly on poorer families which are more likely to be seen as a problem.
• •Rachel Condry (2007) - the state may seek to control and regulate family by imposing compulsory Parenting Orders through the courts (parents of truants, young offenders or badly behaved children may be forced to attend parenting classes.
• Foucault


  •Donzelot draws on the work of Foucault.•Foucault (1976) discusses the topic of surveillance (observing and monitoring). He argues that power is not just held by government but throughout society through surveillance by professionals.