The first major study of the history of British "bad girls," this book uses a wide range of professional, popular and personal texts to explore the experiences of girls in the twentieth century juvenile justice system, examine the processes leading to their definition as delinquent, defective or neglected, and analyses possibilities for reform.

This study of children's participation in decisions about their care draws on recent work in sociology and anthropology, psychology and legal philosophy in order to understand this challenging area of social life. It also reports on original and groundbreaking research into children's views of decision-making processes. The book has important theoretical implications and important lessons for social welfare policy and practice. It will be of interest to those involved in childhood studies or in qualitative research methods, as well as in social welfare provision.

In Religion, Ethnicity and Social Change the author argues that the recent focus on religious fundamentalism in ethnic conflict has obscured the ambiguous role of 'mainstream' Western religion. The book examines the relationship between the religious and secular spheres at a time of rapid transition in South Africa and Northern Ireland.

Feminist social movements of the 1960s and 70s demanded radical change and an end to women's oppression. They aimed their demands at the state, thereby recognising that the state had the power to change policies. Twenty-five years later, it seems that everything and nothing has changed. Women now make up half the workforce of advanced capitalist societies but they still do the bulk of the cleaning, washing and cooking at home. So have feminist social movements been effective in bringing about change? Has their engagement with the state led to changes in social policies? Have they made any...

Recent years have witnessed increased international interest in the relevance of social theories associated with postmodernism, social constructionism and narrative approaches for social work. The central aim of this unique book is to demonstrate how such ideas can make a direct and positive contribution to social work practice. The innovative approach is affirmative and reflexive and emphasis is given to dialogue, process and plurality of knowledge and voice. Richly illustrated by case examples, the book is an ideal introduction to a crucially important new area of social work theory.

This book focuses on the complex patterning of mental disorder identified in men and women. The first part of the book examines the gendered landscape of mental disorder, key concepts and approaches, and the way in which gender is embedded in constructs of mental disorder. The second part considers theories of the causes of mental disorder and the extent to which the different causes can account for the gendered landscape of disorder. It concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the analysis.