seven - Reproducing inequalities

Summary

Introduction

The ideas about brain science and early intervention put forward by its proponents in government policy reports, lobbyist websites and professional materials, give off an aura of optimism – what has been referred to as a ‘hopeful ethos’ (Rose and Abi-Rached, 2013). The hopeful ethos captures the idea that our fate is not pre-determined by our biology or social position, but is shaped by early social processes that mould the brain. It leads to the idea that, as individuals and as a nation, we have the opportunity to do something about that: ‘we are now acquiring the obligation to take care of our brain – and the brains of our families and children – for the good of each and all’ (Rose and Abi-Rached, 2013: 223). The notion of being able to invest and intervene in parenting so as to shape a baby's brain development to ensure better life chances for the young child and for the future of the nation feels constructive and positive. All that is required in this view is for experts to explain and demonstrate to mothers how to bring their children up for best effect, and for mothers to listen, learn and step up to fulfil the responsibility to take good care of their children's brain development. The complex web of relationships between adults and children in families and communities, and the accompanying array of childhood interactions, are scaled down to the level of the relationship between a baby and what is referred to as their ‘primary caregiver’. It is mothers who are positioned as, and overwhelmingly are, ‘primary carers’. This is a point with major implications for mothers that we explore in this chapter. We need to pay attention to the way that the early intervention doctrine invigorates a ‘neurosexism’ (Fine, 2010) that chimes with innately gendered ideas about women and their place. Traditional stereotypes of women as biological nurturers and notions of maternal responsibility lead to mothers becoming de facto sites for early intervention (Kenney and Müller, 2016), ultimately holding women accountable for the wellbeing of the nation and for poverty, crime and other social ills that may threaten this.