Gender and child neglect: theory, research and policy

Neglect can lead to significantly poor outcomes for children in the short and long term. Definitions of neglect and research reflect underlying theoretical assumptions about gender roles. Research into professional practice with child abuse and neglect suggests that practice too is also highly gendered with a focus on mothers. Policies with regard to child protection in general, and child neglect in particular, do not address gender issues in an explicit fashion. In this paper it is suggested that social policy must be explicitly informed by an analysis of the gender issues that underlie understandings of neglect and response to neglect.