module specification

This module serves as a central component in realising the Safeguarding and Security MA’s objective of enabling students to develop a critical awareness and appreciation of contested views of vulnerability and responses. It therefore complements core modules addressing modes of intervention, responsibility and institutionalisation of policies.  In addition, the module conceptually informs students’ perspectives on methodological approaches to researching vulnerability and violence. The module invites students to develop a critically-informed approach to categories of vulnerability and risk as an introduction to safeguarding policy and practice. The module traces the emergence of vulnerability and risk in social, cultural and political contexts encouraging students to understand their social construction in relation to broader social issues. The module equips students with a range of theoretical positions and concepts allowing sociological insight into the inter-subjective dynamics of risk and vulnerability.  These include attention to dominant moralising agendas, societal influences, cross-cultural comparisons, the normalisation of abuse, precarity, and/or exploitation, and the implications of media representations of the vulnerable. 

The module aims to:
• explain the historical development of safeguarding measures in terms of social attitudes and welfare policy mechanisms
• provide the theoretical and conceptual tools as a basis for defining and measuring vulnerability and risk
• explore a range of tensions between the conceptualisation of vulnerability and the effective implementation of prevention policies
• study the nature of abuse/exploitation in relation to age, gender, social class and ethnicity 
• develop a systematic understanding of the complex relationship between society and vulnerable groups

1. In-depth introduction to the political and cultural dimensions of vulnerability and the social construction of categories of risk.  Key topics include the concept of vulnerability as a fundamental basis of human rights discourse; the political uses and abuses of vulnerability; and the tension between ideas of autonomy/agency and regulation/structure. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6

2. Exploration of the ‘vulnerable self’ highlighting the contexts and responses to cases of self-neglect, self-harming and suicide. This topic draws attention to the alienating aspects of contemporary society in terms of the problems of age, identity, mental health and disability. This approach to vulnerability outlines theoretical implications of understanding the self as embedded in and constrained by social forces ranging from social marginalisation to hate crime. LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5, LO6

3. The sexual dimensions of risk explored through the phenomena of sexual grooming and sexual exploitation, and the cultural and gendered contexts surrounding female genital cutting, forced marriage, honour killings and breast ironing. Underlying themes point to the role of social media/ cyber abuse, and the tension between deeply embedded cultural repertoires and discourses of individual rights. LO1, LO2, LO3

4. Vulnerability and economic violence: a number of themes are addressed ranging from modern slavery and labour exploitation, the vulnerability of precarious migration, the exploitative nature of gambling and the risk of addiction, to scams and debt in the modern age. Central contexts to be highlighted are the implication of technological innovation and related capabilities, the variations of risk across age groups, and the consequences of social marginalisation. LO1, LO2, LO3

5. The relationship between vulnerability and criminalisation will be addressed in-depth by exploring the problem of vulnerable and marginalised young people pulled into crime. This topic invites students to develop a critical approach to questions of agency and vulnerability, deviant identities and questions of socio-economic inequality through case studies such as the example of ‘county lines’ drug dealing and the exploitation of the vulnerable. LO1, LO2, LO5, LO7

This module is delivered on block. The teaching methods will include group work, lectures, guest lecture, workshops, and appraisal of audio-visual material. Recommended reading will be available to support each session. Additional electronic material and lecture notes will be made available via Weblearn.

LO1. Identify key themes and issues related to the conceptualisation of vulnerable groups
LO2. Understand the significance of social contexts and norms in defining and responding to vulnerability
LO3. Link ideas of citizenship and human rights to safeguarding frameworks
LO4. Identify power dynamics at play in the categorisation of individuals/groups at risk
LO5. Apply key explanatory frameworks and analyse current debate in relation to diverse cultural settings
LO6. Identify and employ the sociological concepts of agency and structure in debates
LO7. Develop and present a critical argument using key concepts and contemporary examples of vulnerability

Assessment consists of one in-class presentation and an essay. For the 15 minute presentation students will chose one area category of vulnerability discussed on the module and explore the relevant concepts, construction and responses through a chosen case study.
A list of essay questions relating to module themes will be supplied at the start of the module

Core texts
Broadhurst, K., Grover, C. and Jamieson, J. [eds] (2009) Critical Perspectives on Safeguarding Children. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
Brown, K. (2016) Vulnerability and Young People: Care and Social Control in Policy and Practice. Bristol: Policy Press.
Burrage, H. (2015)  Eradicating Female Genital Mutilation: A UK Perspective, London: Routledge
Craig, G., Balch, A., Lewis, H. and Waite, L. (2019) The Modern Slavery Agenda: Policy, Politics and Practice in the UK. Bristol: Policy Press.
Devine, L. (2017) The Limits of State Power: Exploring Child Protection and Safeguarding Referrals and Assessments. London: Routledge
Ferraresee, E. (2019) The Politics of Vulnerability. London: Routledge.
Firmin, C. (2018) Abuse Between Young People: A Contextual Account. London: Routledge.
Gill, A., Strange, C. and Roberts, K. [eds] (2014) ‘Honour’ Killing and Violence: Theory, Policy and Practice, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Hallett, S. (2017) Making Sense of Child Sexual Exploitation: Exchange, Abuse and Young People, Bristol: Policy Press.
Hepburn, S. and Simon, R. (2013) Human Trafficking Around the World: Hidden in Plain Sight, New York: Columbia University Press.
Kara, S. (2017) Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery, New York: Columbia University Press.
MacIntyre, G., Stewart, A. and  McCusker, P. (2018) Safeguarding Adults: Key Themes and Issues. London: Palgrave
Parton, N. (1995) Child Protection: Risk and the Moral Order. London: Palgrave.
Pilgim, D. (2018) Child Sexual Abuse: Moral Panic or State of Denial?. London: Routledge
Radford, L. (2012) Rethinking Children, Violence and Safeguarding, London: Continuum.
Rahman, A. and Toubia, N. [eds] (2000) Female Genital Mutilation: A Guide to Laws and Policies Worldwide, London: Zed
Strong, S. (2005) A Bright Red Scream: Self-mutilation and the Language of Pain, London: Virago.
Warner, J. (2015) The Emotional Politics of Social Work and Child Protection, Bristol: Policy Press.

Additional reading
Beck, U. (1992) Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. London: Sage.  
Bossler, A., Holt, T. & May, D. (2011) ‘Predicting Online Harassment Victimization Among a Juvenile Population’. Youth and Society, 44(4): 500-523.
Brownlie, J. (2001) ‘The `Being-Risky' Child: Governing Childhood and Sexual Risk’. Sociology, 35(2): 519-537.
Butler, J. (2006) Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence. London: Verso.
Foucault, M. (2008) The Birth of Biopolitics. London: Palgrave.
Foucault, M. (2012) On the Government of the Living. New York: Picador.
Garrett, P. (2018) Social Work and Social Theory: Making Connections. Bristol: Policy Press.
Görgen, A. and Fangerau, H. (2017) ‘Deconstruction of a taboo: press coverage of sexual violence against children in pedagogical institutions in Germany 1950–2013’. Media, Culture & Society, 40(7): 973-991.
Gupta, R. (2008) Enslaved: The New British Slavery. London: Granta.
Megele, C. (2016) Safeguarding Children and Young People Online. Bristol: Policy Press.
Oliviero, K. (2018) Vulnerability Politics: The Uses and Abuses of Precarity in Political Debate. New York: New York University Press.
Parton, N. (2005) Safeguarding Childhood: Early Intervention and Surveillance in a Late Modern Society. London: Palgrave.
Scourfield, J. (2008) ‘The Rediscovery of Child Neglect’. The Sociological Review, 48(3): 365-382,
Turner, B. (2006) Vulnerability and Human Rights. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press.
Webb, S. (2006) Social Work in a Risk Society: Social and Political Perspectives, London: Palgrave.

Selected online resources

Shafilea Ahmed's tragic history of violence | UK news
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/aug/03/shafilea-ahmed-history-of-violence

Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/31/contents

Serious Crime Act 2015
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/9/contents/enacted

Breast ironing on the rise (April 2019)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03lx53y

What is modern slavery?
https://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/modern-slavery/

County lines gangs believed responsible for surge in trafficked British children
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/child-trafficking-county-lines-ganges-exploitation-modern-slavery-minors-home-office-drugs-a8830396.html

https://www.selfharm.co.uk/get-information/the-facts/what-is-self-harm