Questioning the vulnerability zeitgeist: care and control practices with 'vulnerable' young people

TY - JOUR

T1 - Questioning the vulnerability zeitgeist

T2 - care and control practices with 'vulnerable' young people

AU - Brown, Kate

N1 - © 2013 Cambridge University Press

PY - 2014/1

Y1 - 2014/1

N2 - This article provides insights into how the concept of vulnerability operates in welfare and disciplinary processes for young people who are considered ‘vulnerable’. It reports from empirical qualitative research conducted in a large city in England which included interviews with vulnerable young people and with professionals working with this group. Findings highlight that despite differences of opinion about what constitutes ‘vulnerability’, it is a popular and powerful conceptual mechanism which underpins the delivery of service interventions for certain young people. A relationship between vulnerability and ‘transgression’ is revealed, calling into question dichotomous representations of young people as either ‘vulnerable victims’ or ‘dangerous wrong-doers’. It is argued that whilst it can be utilised in the pursuit of more ‘caring’ interventions with those who are seen to be ‘in need’, vulnerability is also a concept relevant to debates concerning selective welfare systems and behavioural regulation.

AB - This article provides insights into how the concept of vulnerability operates in welfare and disciplinary processes for young people who are considered ‘vulnerable’. It reports from empirical qualitative research conducted in a large city in England which included interviews with vulnerable young people and with professionals working with this group. Findings highlight that despite differences of opinion about what constitutes ‘vulnerability’, it is a popular and powerful conceptual mechanism which underpins the delivery of service interventions for certain young people. A relationship between vulnerability and ‘transgression’ is revealed, calling into question dichotomous representations of young people as either ‘vulnerable victims’ or ‘dangerous wrong-doers’. It is argued that whilst it can be utilised in the pursuit of more ‘caring’ interventions with those who are seen to be ‘in need’, vulnerability is also a concept relevant to debates concerning selective welfare systems and behavioural regulation.

KW - Vulnerability

KW - Young people

KW - Social control

KW - Conditionality

U2 - 10.1017/S1474746413000535

DO - 10.1017/S1474746413000535

M3 - Article

SN - 1474-7464

VL - 13

SP - 1

EP - 17

JO - Social Policy and Society

JF - Social Policy and Society

IS - 3

ER -