Den produktive kvinde

Kroppen, kærligheden og økonomien

Abstract

The aim of this article is to contribute to reflec- tion on how the family is perceived politically and in social work in Denmark. Through a historical analysis of policies for and developments in social work from the 30’es and up until the end of the 90’es it is showed how perceptions of the family have been shaped on the basis of the idea of the productive woman. This idea pertains to the woman capable of overcoming challenges in integrating considerations related to the body, love and economy for the purpose of fulfilling the needs of the family and not the least: the needs of the child. Historically in policy and social work the as- sumption has been that the productive efforts of the woman are crucial to the life and pos- sibilities of the family – not the least regarding the woman being a single provider and carer for the child. However, the analysis shows in tandem how more specific perceptions of the productive woman are far from unambiguous and also hold conflicting perspectives. While the political perceptions on the family have more narrowly focused on the capability of the woman to comply with ideals of productivity in motherhood and labour work, social work has continuously addressed how social expectations for productivity and welfare are also challenging the woman, this combined with attempts to promote a more complex view on the living conditions of the family. In more

recent times those conflicting perceptions are seemingly blurred by a relatively strong and homogeneous focus on the psychosocial well- being of the child. The perception of the family has to some extent become child-centered. Therefore the article questions if it has become more difficult to embrace the complexity of the life of the family, the challenges in integrating body, love and economy as well as the produc- tive woman? Or does the strong focus on the child open for new possibilities for reflection on such preconditions to welfare?