Scroungers, Strivers, and Single Mothers: Reproductive Justice and the British Welfare State in Ken Loach’s Social Realism

Melissa Lauren Oliver-Powell

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-99530-0

Scroungers, Strivers, and Single Mothers: Reproductive Justice and the British Welfare State in Ken Loach’s Social Realism

Melissa Lauren Oliver-Powell

English and Related Literature

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

The chapter provides an analysis of British policy and the “welfare state” in relation to reproductive justice theory. While the promise of housing, health care, education, and economic protections seem aligned with the goals of reproductive justice, the
effects of austerity measures have created a different reality especially for lowincome families and single mothers. Oliver-Powell argues that Loach’s social
realist storytelling effectively uses the white working-class mother trope to
critique contemporary welfare policy and highlight the lack of reproductive
justice in British society.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Palgrave Handbook of Reproductive Justice and Literature
Editors	Beth Widmaier-Capo, Laura Lazzari
Publisher	Palgrave Macmillan
Pages	513-538
Number of pages	26
ISBN (Print)	9783030995294, 9783030995324, 9783030995300
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99530-0
Publication status	Published - 2022

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-99530-0

Cite this

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abstract = "The chapter provides an analysis of British policy and the “welfare state” in relation to reproductive justice theory. While the promise of housing, health care, education, and economic protections seem aligned with the goals of reproductive justice, theeffects of austerity measures have created a different reality especially for lowincome families and single mothers. Oliver-Powell argues that Loach{\textquoteright}s socialrealist storytelling effectively uses the white working-class mother trope tocritique contemporary welfare policy and highlight the lack of reproductivejustice in British society.",

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Scroungers, Strivers, and Single Mothers: Reproductive Justice and the British Welfare State in Ken Loach’s Social Realism. / Oliver-Powell, Melissa Lauren.
The Palgrave Handbook of Reproductive Justice and Literature. ed. / Beth Widmaier-Capo; Laura Lazzari. Palgrave Macmillan, 2022. p. 513-538.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

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AB - The chapter provides an analysis of British policy and the “welfare state” in relation to reproductive justice theory. While the promise of housing, health care, education, and economic protections seem aligned with the goals of reproductive justice, theeffects of austerity measures have created a different reality especially for lowincome families and single mothers. Oliver-Powell argues that Loach’s socialrealist storytelling effectively uses the white working-class mother trope tocritique contemporary welfare policy and highlight the lack of reproductivejustice in British society.

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