Is there a backlash and if so, why?
It’s been interesting watching the reaction to some classic ‘child protection gone mad’ stories over the past few weeks – specifically, the idea that parents should be vetted before taking kids to Scouts; the sacking of the dinner lady who told a kid’s parents about a bullying incident; and this latest thing about Ofsted telling two female friends (who were job-sharing) that they’d have to register as childminders. These are quite different stories but there seems to be an understanding that they all fit together – as this report from the ST shows. I think they are all part of the same trend, to regulate more closely individuals’ spontaneous behaviour and the informal arrangements they make – that’s why I object to them. But is that why there is a more general reaction, or are people kicking against something else?
I hate to say this-but this sounds like one of those questions to which you have an answer and we have to guess what the answer is! Please tell.
You over-estimate me, Jane! I am genuinely curious about this. On one hand I don’t want to get too over-excited and assume that all these stupid laws and rules will be dropped due to public anger and media crititicism. It’s not like there are mass rebellions on the streets or anything. On the other hand, I think there is something more here than just a reaction against isolated stories. Is it because people can imagine themselves in these situations, and get narky because they don’t see themselves as candidates for vetting, etc? Is it a case of competing panics and scandal – as with the dinner lady, the fact of the bullying is seen as outweighing any other consideration? Is it just that the gloves are off when if comes to anything to do with New Labour? I dunno, and don’t want to assume the answer!
I am going to leap in and have a go. I think it is all of the above, but I think the fact that people can see themselves in this situation is crucial. When the paedophile panic started, I think one of the reasons it resonated with ordinary people was that it gave them the opportunity to differentiate themselves from paedophiles. The finger wasn’t pointing at ordinary families but at this alien force. But now it is getting closer and closer to home, with ordinary people realising they can’t take pictures at school plays etc. etc. It is actually getting difficult to run your own life without being affected. I think there is a parallel here with divorce, where attempts to whip up stigma and panic are always dampened by the fact that so many ‘decent people’ divorce.
There was an interesting thread about this on mumsnet yesterday, where loads of people were saying that of course they would never use an illegal childminder but this wasn’t illegal, this was about friends helping each other out – quite an interesting distinction for me to read as a lawyer – but I think the essence was that this law really can’t be about me.
There is an interesting thread on this here http://community.cypnow.co.uk/forums/p/1601/4782.aspx#4782
That is interesting, Sally. I think part of this must be to do with a sense of powerlessness in the face of technical systems / government bureaucracy, and awareness that there’s so much surveillance now – which is fair enough, I think. But it collides with the other trend of responsibility aversion, which is partly what led these systems in in the first place – people not trusting themselves / others – even frontline professionals – to make decisions about who is safe to be with children. There’s a similar thing going on with the ContactPoint children’s database, which the Tories have pledged (again) to abolish – do you think we should take bets on whether they’ll actually do it?
Helen – I agree with you on the distancing from paedophiles point. I think people also get freaked out when they start wondering about their own motives for taking pictures, etc – there’s a sense of resentment about being made to feel dirty, when you know rationally that you’re doing nothing wrong.
I think all the comments are true-in one way I think it is everyone looking at what is going on and expressing ” How have we got into this state ?” On a gut level there is a reaction to a country that sees every adult as a potential paedophile, but as this is the organising way of viewing society through the prism of fear it does seem to be a trajectory that will just keep on going.