Publication

Words matter: deconstructing 'welfare dependency' in the uk

Garrett, Paul Michael
Identifiers
http://hdl.handle.net/10379/11590
 https://doi.org/10.13025/27373
Publication Date
2015-11-09
Keywords
raymond williams, antonio gramsci, lawrence mead, common sense
Type
Article
Downloads
Show all metadata
Citation
Garrett, Paul Michael (2015). Words matter: deconstructing 'welfare dependency' in the uk. Critical and Radical Social Work 3 (3), 389-406
Abstract
Drawing on Raymond Williams' approach, the article examines 'welfare dependency' as one of the most pernicious 'keywords' in neoliberal discourse and encourages those located within the field of social work to be sceptical about its uncritical usage. Bolstered by conservative scholarship, the forging of a new 'common sense' on welfare may have contributed to the harsh public perceptions referred to in a significant British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey. Problematising the widespread usage of 'welfare dependency', the article provides a critical resource for social work educators, practitioners, students and users of services.
Funder
Publisher
The Policy Press
Publisher DOI
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland
cbn
Collections
Externally hosted open access publications with University of Galway authors (2)