Family Policy in 21st Century Britain

Abstract

At the start of this century, there has been an unprecedented flurry of family policy development, with parents occupying centre stage. Increasingly, parents are expected to maximise their children’s educational experiences, control their children’s behaviour, engage in parental contracts and receive parental orders if they fail to manage their children’s social contact. However, what is the impact of all these parent-focused initiatives? And are they likely to undermine parental autonomy, confidence and, ultimately, responsibility? In this chapter, I offer an overview of family policy in Britain at the start of the 21st century, highlighting the trajectory of fiscal and behavioural intervention policy.