2 - National Family Policy: Renegotiating the Government–Family Contract

Abstract

This chapter provides an understanding of the national family policy issue. It provides an overview of the history of government–family relations, family policy in its ideological and social context, major family policy proposals, and special implications of this controversy for professionals in the field of family and child care. It focuses on governmental preoccupation and intervention in the ongoing daily activities of family life, that is, functions. It also acknowledges the long-standing role of government vis-a-vis family structure, for example, which relationships are permissible and how they are legitimized and dissolved. The history of government–family relations described in the chapter takes on a significant and critical turn with the emergence of a conscious national family policy movement. It is interesting to compare the social and historical circumstances which precipitate governmental action, the groups pressuring for action and those affected by proposed policies, as well as to explore the use of family rights arguments.