Intensive Mothering in British Columbia: Understanding the Impact of an "Investing-in-Children" Framework on Mothering Ideology.

The article examines the relationship between the ideology of intensive mothering and investing-in-children policy frameworks which place children as the target of government interventions in families. According to the author, such policies may appear to shift some of the burden of raising children from parents to the larger community, but in reality they allow for further regulation of parents. It is suggested that these policies also downplay the child care roles and other work of parental figures and can negatively affect single parents with weak connections to the workforce. Particular focus is given to the policy document "Strong, Safe, and Supported: A Commitment to B.C.'s Children and Youth," published by British Columbia's Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD).