ABSTRACT
From a critical social work perspective this chapter will consider the contribution of the work of the American feminist legal scholar, Martha Fineman (2004, 2008). It will argue that Fineman’s challenge to the deeply engrained notions of individualism can be the anchor for the recasting of a more egalitarian and responsive social state. The chapter will briefly examine the notions of individualism that are such a key feature of neoliberalism. It will go on to outline the main themes in Fineman’s argument and her notion of “the vulnerable subject”. She argues that vulnerability is a constant and universal feature of the human condition. If we recognise this, there are significant implications for the role of the state, particularly in the field of social welfare. The chapter concludes by arguing that Fineman’s work can play a key role in the reinvigoration of societal institutions that focus on the wellbeing of citizens rather than the management of marginalised populations.
