View article

This chapter looks at an area of social work which is particularly charged; that of mothers’ involvement in the abuse of their children. It is primarily concerned to address the issues that are raised for women social workers in such circumstances. Surprisingly little attention has been paid to the fact that when mothers neglect, beat, suffocate, kill or sexually abuse their child/children, it is often another woman (who herself may be a mother and almost certainly has been a daughter) who is involved in investigating, assessing and working with her and her family. The chapter is primarily concerned with the issues which are raised for women social workers, although it recognises that these are also pertinent for others, such as police officers and doctors. While I recognise that there are important issues raised for male professionals in such circumstances, these are beyond the scope of the chapter.