Abstract
Vulnerable families are subject to a myriad of State interventions. In this article, we analyse how interventions of the neo-liberal State may undermine, rather than activate, the caring capabilities of vulnerable families across the life course. We define ‘vulnerable families’ as financially disadvantaged families with complex and enduring needs. Drawing on examples from Australia, England and the USA, we consider how neo-liberal policy reforms may weaken the caring capabilities of these families. We focus our analysis on vulnerable families who have been subject to one of the most intrusive forms of state intervention: the removal of a child. We explain Bourdieu’s concept of ‘misrecognition’ and outline its utility for analysing the neo-liberal state’s failure to recognise and develop the caring function of birth families. We consider the implications of this analysis for the development of a critical research and policy agenda with vulnerable families.