Deakin University
Browse

"Can I call you Mummy?" Weighing political correctness against psychological need in foster care

Version 2 2024-06-17, 22:32
Version 1 2017-02-08, 14:31
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-17, 22:32 authored by K Eitzen, J McIntosh
A common phenomenon observed in children residing in foster care is their tendency to call their foster carers “Mum” or “Mummy”. Concerns are often raised about the appropriateness of this, with some workers and decision-makers in child protection strongly advocating against it. Foster carers are also often unsure how to handle the situation when it occurs. On the one hand, foster carers may feel compelled to take the advice of caseworkers to not allow this practice, yet on the other hand, feel they are rejecting a child, and a vital part of the developing relationship, if they do not allow themselves to be called “Mum”.

History

Journal

Journal of family studies

Volume

10

Pagination

273-281

Location

Abingdon, Eng.

ISSN

1322-9400

eISSN

1839-3543

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article, C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2004, Taylor & Francis

Issue

2

Publisher

Taylor & Francis