The Un/Deserving Child: A Qualitative Study of the Discursive Welfare Rationales of a Philanthropic Foundation for Children Living in Extreme Poverty Situations - 2025
The Un/Deserving Child: A Qualitative Study of the Discursive Welfare Rationales of a Philanthropic Foundation for Children Living in Extreme Poverty Situations
child poverty; neo-philanthropy; social work; welfare rationale; Health (social science); Education; Life-span and Life-course Studies
Abstract :
[en] Child poverty remains a complex social problem in Western societies. In the context of the complex historical transformation of the institutional welfare state framework in Belgium, we discuss a qualitative study on the welfare rationales of a philanthropic foundation for children in extreme poverty situations. Our exploration of the perspectives of the foundation's social partners and administrators shows how a discursive distinction between un/deserving children can be at stake in anti-poverty strategies. Based on our findings, we tease out whether the foundation might metaphorically function as grit in the machine of public actors in the welfare state system.
Disciplines :
Sociology & social sciences
Author, co-author :
Jacquet, Nicolas ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Institut de recherche en Sciences Sociales (IRSS) > IRSS: Centre de Recherche et d'Interventions Sociologiques ; Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Vandekinderen, Caroline; Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Generet, Coline ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Institut de recherche en Sciences Sociales (IRSS) > IRSS: Centre de Recherche et d'Interventions Sociologiques
Vargas, Daniel Zamora; Faculté de Philosophie et Sciences Sociales, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
Vrancken, Didier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences sociales > Sociologie de la santé et des problèmes sociaux
Roets, Griet ; Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
The Un/Deserving Child: A Qualitative Study of the Discursive Welfare Rationales of a Philanthropic Foundation for Children Living in Extreme Poverty Situations
The whole idea of investing in the children with the final goal of active economic participation reflects an instrumental goal. Yet it is noteworthy that the Foundation believes children's aspirations strongly depend on the available resources and material living conditions. Social partners address that the financial support offered by Foundation is much appreciated by partners as it immediately affects the everyday life of families (both children and parents).
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