Year
2010
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Social Sciences, Media and Communication
Recommended Citation
Doyle, Jennifer, Motives and meanings : foster carers' understanding of their role and responsibilities in changing environments, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, Social Sciences, Media and Communication, University of Wollongong, 2010. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/3623
Abstract
This thesis is about people who volunteer to become foster carers. In Australia foster care is the major form of substitute care for children and young people who cannot be cared for in their own family. However, at a time when we are witnessing increasing numbers of young people with high support needs entering the foster care system, we are also witnessing a decline in the number of people volunteering to become foster carers.
Despite foster carers being key stakeholders in the fostering process, very little is known about them. While sociological analysis and theorising is prominent within the caring discourse, there is little to be found in regard to foster care and foster caregiving. To date most research concerned with people who put themselves forward to foster has been conducted from social work and social policy perspectives. Even more surprising is that foster carers themselves are rare voices within the literature.
This thesis outlines and critically explores a new and unique area of sociological interest. First, it focuses on factors, motives and meanings which help us understand why people become foster carers and what is important to them as they conduct their daily caregiving. Second, and in contrast to previous research into fostering motives, it focuses on motives and meanings as articulated by carers themselves in their personal accounts of fostering. As a sociological study, I develop a conceptual framework which incorporates and builds on both macro- and micro-level considerations. This is achieved by drawing on theoretical insights from the feminist literature on care and caregiving (representing the macro level), and by employing an interactionist approach to the interpretation and understanding of motives (representing the micro level).
Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.