History of Chinese Traditional Clothing: Green Design

History of Chinese Traditional Clothing: Green Design China is a multi-ethnic country that had approximately 5000 years history. Clothing manufacture in China dates back to prehistoric times, at least 7,000 years ago. According to the findings of 18,000 year-old artifacts by the archaeologists. They found the bone sewing needles and stone beads and shells with holes bored in them attest to the existence of ornamentation and of sewing extremely early in Chinese civilization. For thousands of years, China has experienced many dynasties from first Xia Dynasty (BC 2100) to the last Qin dynasty (AD 1911), the generations of clothing designers created different style of garments. The meaning of garments from cover the human body into an important component of Chinese culture. The progress of nation can be seen through its changes in clothing styles. However, with the development of the social and economic, at the same time of pay more attention on the styles and effect of the garments, the fashion designers ignored the materials what they have used whether it is good or bad for our environment. That is Green design which was the popular points of view in recent years. The purpose of my research is to appeal more and more Chinese fashion designers begin to focus on the green design throughout the long history of Chinese traditional clothing. Part 1: The history of Chinese traditional clothing The symbol of colors during the Chinese history During the approximately 5000 years of Chinese history, color had it own particular meanings. Stringent rules are made for the color of ancient dress and adornment. Yellow is the most valuable color as a symbol of center. It is reserved for royalty and emperor. Although each dynasty designates their own color in each official rank, clothing and objects that are yellow in color still resemble a higher social status. Yellow also is the main color of Buddhism, thus it represents being free from worldly cares. Red is used for happiness and joy such as births, weddings holidays and so on. In fact, after the Ming Dynasty, only the Emperors close relatives could have homes with red walls and yellow roof tiles. Peasants could only live in homes made with blue bricks and roof tiles. White is a symbol of the unknown and purity. It is white is the color of mourning, death, and ghosts. Therefore Chinese people will wear white during a funeral or while summoning ghosts. Whats more, green, red, wh ite and black symbolize the East, the South, the West and the North respectively. These four colors also associate with four specific seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. In general, Green, red, black, white and yellow are pure colors applied by the emperors and officials. The common people could only apply the secondary colors. Darker colors were favored over lighter ones in traditional Chinese clothing, so the main color of ceremonial clothing tended to be dark while bright, elaborate tapestry designs accented. The common people for everyday and around the house use wore lighter colored clothing more frequently. (Amaranthine, 2007) Clothing styles and the usage of fabrics in different dynasty According to the Chinese long history, each dynasty in China had its own memorable culture and style of garments. The costumes of ancient China were emblems of Chinese tradition, as well as an essential element in the history and culture of each dynasty. Costume maintained an important role in Chinese culture for more than three thousand years. The culture of China is ancient and well established, brilliant and resplendent. The costumes are likewise magnificent and colorful. There were many dynasties throughout Chinas history, each having its own unique style of garments. And each style would change or disappear as its dynasty changed, declined, or was replaced. With the advent of each new dynasty and the progression of time, costumes were revolutionized. The style was classical and conservative in the Qin and Han dynasties, luxurious and glamorous in the Tang dynasty, delicate and exquisite in the Song dynasty, graceful and magnificent in the Ming dynasty, and very intricate in the Qing dynasty. Chinas complete code of costume and trappings was established in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). (Shenyi in Han Dynasty) The yarn-dyeing, embroidering and metal-processing technologies developed rapidly in the period. Han dynasty also was the first time in history that China had contact with the West through the Silk Road. Shenyi or deep garments was most famous in Han dynasty. The shenyi is made up of the upper and lower garment, tailored and made in a unique way. It has to be long enough not to expose the skin, but short enough not to drag on the floor. The forepart is elongated into a large triangle; with the part above the waist in straight cut and tile part below the waist bias cut, for ease of movement. The frock and skirt were sewn together in the Shenyi system. People worn in black would like to match purple silk adornments. It implied that silk started to be used in the garments. The unified and prosperous China was established in the Tang Dynasty (AD618-AD907). In Chinas history, the Tang Dynasty was a period when the polity and economy were highly developed and the culture and art were thriving. In general, the Tang womens dresses can be classified into three categories: the hufu, or alien dress that came from the Silk Road, the traditional ruqun or double layered or padded short jacket that was typical of central China, as well as the full set of male garments that broke the tradition of the Confucian formalities. The Tang women inherited this traditional style and developed it further, opening up the collar as far as exposing the cleavage between the breasts. This was unheard of and unimaginable in the previous dynasties. In the early years of the Qing Dynasty (AD1644-AD1911), long gowns featured collarless, narrow cuff in the shape of a horses hoof, buttons down the left front, four slits and a fitting waist. Wearers usually coiled up their cuff, and put it down when hunting or battling to cover the back of hand. In winter, the cuff could serve to prevent cold. The gown had four slits, with one on the left, right, front and back, which reached the knees. It was fitted to the body and rather warm. Fastened with a waistband, the long gown could hold solid food and utensils when people went out hunting. Mens long gowns were mostly blue, gray or green; and womens, white. Another feature of Manchu cheongsam was that people generally wore it plus a waistcoat that was either with buttons down the front, a twisted front, or a front in the shape of lute, etc. When the early Manchu rulers came to China proper, the capital was moved to Beijing and cheongsam began to spread in the Central Plains. The Qing Dynasty unified China, and unified the nationwide costume as well. At that time, men wore a long gown and a mandarin jacket over the gown, while women wore cheongsam. Although the 1911 Revolution toppled the rule of the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty, the female dress survived the political change and, with succeeding improvements, has become the traditional dress for Chinese women. After the 1940s, influenced by new fashion home and abroad, Manchu mens cheongsam was phased out, while womens cheongsam became narrow-sleeved and fitted to the waist and had a relatively loose hip part, and its lower hem reached the ankles. Then there emerge various forms of cheongsams we see today that emphasize color decoration and set off the beauty of the female shape. Why cheongsam was more popular at that period of time? The main reason is that it fits well the fe males body, although it only shows the simple lines, it looks elegant and well fitted. The cheongsam can either be long or short, unlined or interlined, woolen or made of silk floss. Besides, with different materials, the cheongsam presents different styles. Cheongsams made of silk with patterns of floweret, plain lattices or thin lines demonstrate charm of femininity and staidness; those made of brocade are eye-catching and magnificent. The earliest known silk textiles excavated in China dated to about 3630 BCE. Fabrics made of silk consist of many types: Brocade, satin, silk fabric, etc. This variety of fabric is due to different kinds of weaving skill and silk fabrics. Some are lined, some are unbleached, some are heavy, and some are thin. Silk- knit goods is one of great Chinese products in the world. The weaving skills emerged in the primitive society. They can demonstrate the culture tradition of one nation. Except the different kinds of silk, cotton, flax, voile, jute and satin were commonly used in the garments as well. 5,000+ BC FLAX: Generally considered to be the oldest natural textile fiber. 3,000+ BC COTTON: Earliest use estimated between 3,000 BC to 5,000 BC. Worn by Egyptians earlier than 2,500 BC. Eli Whitneys invention of the cotton gin in 1793 revolutionized  the processing of cotton. The development of the power loom in 1884 brought significant  improvements and variations to cotton fabrics. Major producers: United States, Soviet States, Chinaand India. Lessor producers include Pakistan, Brazil, Turkey, Egypt, Mexico  Iran and Sudan. 3,000 BC WOOL: Used by people of the Late Stone Age, There are 40 different breeds of sheep, which produce  approximately 200 types of wool of varying grades. Major producers include: Australia, New Zealand, Soviet States, China, South Africa, and Argentina. 2,600 BC SILK: Believed discovered by a Chinese princess. Silk is made from two continuous filaments cemented together  and used to form the cocoon of the silkworm. Silk culture began about 1725 BC, sponsored by the wife of Chinas  emperor. Secrets of cultivation and fabric manufacturing were closely guarded  by the Chinese for about 3,000 years. There is a story that two monks smuggled seeds of the mulberry  tree and silkworm eggs out of China by hiding them in their walking  sticks. India learned of silk culture when a Chinese princess married an  Indian prince. Part 2: Green Design What is green design? Green design, also known as eco-design, uses design to include economic, social and ecological sustainability. Green design can be used for the microcosm and macrocosm in the scheme of daily living. Green design uses renewable resources. It reminds people about recycling to save the environment. Green design is sustainable design as materials that can be recycled sustain it. It is beneficial to recycle material as it reduces the wastage of new resources. Green design can be also explained as design for the environment. Protecting our environment, and its present and future inhabitants, is the essential and important goal of sustainability. This large and complex field looks at our marketplace, at the way we grow, make and consume products, and strives to incorporate an awareness of the impact of our choices at every stage of the process. There is no one right way to be environmentally responsible, but there are a growing number of intelligent choices and best practices. The concept of sustainability combines concern for the well being of our planet with the needs of continued human development. The World Commission on Environment and Development defines it as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. When the design process is informed by this imperative, the central concern is to assess the consequences, both short and long-term, of any transformation of the environment. Design must also aim to eliminate waste, to use renewable energy, to reduce toxic emissions and to leave as light a footprint on the environment as possible. What is green fabrics? These fabrics, without any additional backings or chemical finishes, utilize post-consumer and post-industrial recycled polyester, and are themselves recyclable. The American mills that weave these designs have programs to minimize and recycle selvage waste and shipping materials, assess dye protocols and reduce energy use. The materials are typically harvested within a 10-year or shorter cycle. These natural fibers include cotton, sisal, flax, ramie, hemp, jute, wool, silk, mohair and bamboo. The Market of Green design in China There are a large amount of wasted materials can be recycled in the textile industry. China is a big textile country. The production of cotton gauze is ranking first in the world so as to the textile wastes resources are also very rich in the process of production. The consumption of textile fabric is about 5 million tons per year. With the continually increase of textile consumption; the textile wastes are also keep growing. On the other hands, China has a huge population. The textile recourses are inadequate, it cannot satisfy the needs of textile industry production. Strengthen the textile waste recycling, waste to treasure, it is not only has a huge effect on making up for the shortage of textile raw materials, but also a new industrial projects for low cost, high benefits and adequate recourses. Thus the recycle textile fabrics have a broad prospects development in the Chinese market. It is estimated that more than 1 million tones of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household sources. Textiles make up about 3% by weight of a household bin. At least 50% of the textiles we throw away are recyclable. (Analysis of household waste composition and factors driving waste increases Dr. J. Parfitt, WRAP, December 2002) Although the majority of textile waste originates from household sources, waste textiles also arise during yarn and fabric manufacture, garment-making processes and from the retail industry. These are termed post-industrial waste, as opposed to the post-consumer waste, which goes to jumble sales and charity shops. Together they provide a vast potential for recovery and recycling. Recovery and recycling provide both environmental and economic benefits. Textile recovery: Reduces the need for landfill space. Textiles present particular problems in landfill as synthetic (man-made fibres) products will not decompose, while woollen garments do decompose and produce methane that contributes to global warming. Reduces pressure on virgin resources. Aids the balance of payments as we import fewer materials for our needs. Results in less pollution and energy savings, as fibers do not have to be transported from abroad. At present the consumer has the option of putting textiles in clothes banks, taking them to charity shops or having them picked up for a jumble sale. Recycled, a scheme run by the Textile Recycling Association in conjunction with local authorities and charities provides textile banks for public use. The Salvation Army, Scope, and Oxfam also use a bank scheme in conjunction with other methods. Scope, for example, runs a national door-to-door textile collection service. There are about 3,000 textile banks nationwide, but clothes banks are only operating at about 25% capacity. The Salvation Army is the largest operator of textile banks in the UK, with over 2,000 banks nationwide. On average, each of these banks is estimated to collect about six tones of textiles per year. Combined with door-to-door collections, The Salvation Armys textile recycling operations account for the processing of in excess of 17,000 tones of clothing a year. Clothes are given to the homeless, sold in charity sh ops or sold in developing countries in Africa, the Indian sub-continent and parts of Eastern Europe.Nearly 70% of items put into clothing banks are reused as clothes, and any un-wearable items are sold to merchants to be recycled and used as factory wiping cloths. Thus for the Chinese market, we also can set more clothes banks in order to recycle more clothes. It is fortune that there is a lot of Chinese fashion designers begin to focus on the green design. For example, the Chinese fashion designer Yichao Zhang, he won the Creative award in 2009. He uses kong and Yu as his inspiration to show the new collection in the 2010 Chinese international fashion week-Autumn/Winter. He said, the meaning of Chinese word kong in English is sky, natural, and the space that human beings belong to. Yu means the space that human beings live to. He want to express that natural is the best living space for the human beings, thus people needs to love our natural and environment. All the garments were be made by the natural fabric, it reflect the green design obviously. What have I plan to do in the next step? Make more research about the fabric about Chinese traditional clothing, the news and report about green design in china and green fabrics. Make a questionnaire to survey the target customers, to get some information about what their opinion and their understanding of the green design. Make an interview to a Chinese fashion designer or some factories that prefers green design or product green fabrics. Make some market analysis about how popular will green design have in china. Questionnaire I am the student from Northumbria University in Newcastle. Can you help me to finish some questions about the Green Design as follow? Gender_____ Occupation_____ Age_____ 1. Have you heard about the Green Design? ___Yes ___No 2. When you buy a piece of garments, will you concern about the fabrics whether it was made in natural fabrics? ___Always ___Sometimes ___Never 3. Do you know the difference between natural fabrics and man-made fabrics? ___ Yes, I know ___Yes, I know a little bit ___No, I dont know 4. What will you do to deal with your old clothing? ___Throw away ___Recycle the clothing to the related department ___Keep it 5. Do you agree to advocate the fashion designers to use natural fabrics for making the garments? ___Yes I agree. ___Its up to the fashion designers, I never mind. ___I prefer the designers to use man-made fabrics. References CHUEN-FANG, L. (1991). Chinese decorative design. Taiwan, Republic of China, SMC Pub. Là ¼, H., Ma, C. (1980). Traditional Chinese textile designs in full color. Dover pictorial archive series. New York: Dover Publications. POOLE, B. (2006). Green design. New York, N.Y., Mark Batty Publisher. YANG, S. (2004). Traditional Chinese clothing: costumes, adornments culture. San Francisco, Long River Press. Chinese Clothing Five Thousand Years History http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/yanglu/ECC_CULTURE_CLOTHING.HTM (no date) (Accessed at 21 April 2010) DESIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. http://www.pollackassociates.com/fabrics/info/green-design.cfm (no date) (Accessed at 21 April 2010) Medical Issue of Negligence | Case Study Medical Issue of Negligence | Case Study Muhammad Younas Introduction Healthcare professionals often confront situations of ambiguity and uncertainty regarding patient’s treatment. Ethical issues arise when there is violation of ethical principles by the health care providers, more specifically when the patient and family leave the decision on physicians considering them dominant and body of knowledge. These issues also arise when physician takes decision based some personal interest and which is partially or not at all in favor of patient. In this paper I am going to comment on the malpractice which is defined as the form of negligence where by any professional misconduct, unreasonable lack of professional skills or the care provided not meet the standards and causes harm to the patient (Burkhardt Nathaniel, 2008). Scenario A 25 years old male patient diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage after road traffic accident was kept on ventilator in intensive care unit (ICU). Patient attendants were relying for any decision on health professionals. The family was well established and was able to pay any cost to save their patient. Patient was progressing towards brain death and attendants were not informed about the situation. Patient remained on ventilator for the next seven days and then declared dead. Nurses failed to intervene as they were afraid of job insecurity. The doctor misused his authority and forced nurses to just follow the orders. The doctor was aware about patient’s condition, but kept the patient on vent to generate revenue. Ethical issue In this scenario the doctor was aware about the subarachnoid hemorrhage and its poor prognosis as it was a traumatic brain injury leading towards brain death. Bullock et al. (2006) have classified subarachnoid hemorrhage as severe traumatic brain injury with twofold mortality rate and very poor prognosis. Despite the poor prognosis and no chances of survival of the patient the doctor kept the patient on ventilator because of his own, as well as institutional interest. The doctor kept the family unaware of this information and took decision based on his own interest as the family was well-off and was totally relying on the doctor for any action to be taken. Moreover, dignity of a human being was violated by keeping on prolong mechanical ventilation with brain death. Furthermore, the ICU bed and the ventilator could have been used for another critically ill patient as this was a case of brain death. Analysis of the ethical issue: Baskett, Steen and Bossaert (2005) have mentioned that the four ethical principles that are Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice are crucial in making decision at the end of life care. In this particular scenario the four ethical principles have been violated as consequences of the malpractice that is keeping the family unaware of the patient situation and prognosis. The term autonomy literally means â€Å"self-governance† (Burkhardt Nathaniel, 2008, p. 54). As the patient was on ventilator, in this case the surrogate decision maker will be one of the family members. It is the doctor’s obligation to inform the family about the prognosis and chances of survival and also explain them the code options and then let them autonomously decide on behalf of the patient. By not informing the family and not involving them actively in the decision about code status of the patient, the healthcare provider violated the family autonomy and misused paternalistic approach. The principle of beneficence refers to an act for the benefit of others (Beauchamp Childress, 2001). In particular to this scenario the specific beneficence has been violated as keeping the patient on ventilator with brain death is of no use for patient but only a false hope for family and financial burden. The element of veracity has been violated by not telling truth to the fa mily about the patient’s condition and prognosis. One of the consequences of the malpractice by the doctor is violation of justice. The doctor was not fair in proper allocation of resources the ventilator and ICU bed could have been used for another critically ill patient which were occupied by this patient with brain death. Ethical issue of interest and my position Then main issues in this scenario are the decision taken by the physician based on his own interest and then keeping the family unaware of the whole situation and consequently the general ethical principles have violated through malpractice. My stance in this situation is that Parents are legitimate decision makers and must be involve in making decision on behalf of their children. Arguments Autonomy of the legitimate decision makers has been violated. Emanuel and Emanuel (1992) suggested a four models approach based namely, (i) paternalistic model, (ii) the informative model, (iii) the interpretive model and, (iv) the deliberative model. Firstly, paternalistic model, the physician has adopted paternalistic approach but did not make sure that whether the interventions best promote health and wellbeing. Secondly, in the objective of the informative model, the physician did not provide legitimate decision makers with all the relevant information about the disease prognosis, the risk and benefits of the available interventions, but just decided on his own. Thirdly, in the interpretive model the physician did not elucidate the parent’s values about selection of the available interventions which realizes their values. Lastly, the deliberative model, the physician did not assist the parents to choose and decide for the patient the best health related values. All of the four models are focused on patient autonomy and stressed that autonomy of the patient should be taken care in any circumstances. Malpractice by the physician reflects that he did not show adherence to his oath and accountability in taking decision for patient. It is the duty of the physician to bear in mind the preserving of human life and should owe his complete loyalty and resources of his knowledge for the patient (Pakistan medical and dental council, 2006). Furthermore, there was misuse of paternalistic approach by the doctor. Burkhardt and Nathaniel (2008) suggests that though based on beneficence, decisions taken are centered to patient wellbeing, however, the inherent supremacy in such a hierarchical arrangement may be abused and the decision taken may reflect the self-interest of the healthcare professional more than care for the patient (p. 270). In addition there was violation of social justice by the physician in the allocation of resources and budget for other deserving candidates. After the brain death the physician new that further treatment is futile and of no benefit for the patient yet he ordered to continue the treatment. The ICU bed and ventilator could have been used for other deserving candidates. If a patient is dead and still on ventilator in this case the cessation of treatment will not provide harm (Beauchamp Childress, 2001). It clearly indicates that the doctor kept the patient after brain death longer for own and hospital interest. Ethics of care In the light of ethics of care being a nurse the nurse personally feels that that the patient was on ventilator and was in a vulnerable state and though he failed to intervene but what possible he could have done? The theory of ethics defined by Tronto (1993) as cited in Lachman (2012), there is a pre-existing moral relationship between people and he further stated that there are four phases in patient care that are (i) caring about, (ii) taking care of, (iii) care giving and (iv) care receiving. In â€Å"caring about† phase the nurse noticed that the physician violated the legitimate decision makers’ autonomy by not involving them in decision making. In the phase â€Å"taking care of† he realized that he could have taken the responsibility and empathize what the parents were experiencing. Therefore in the â€Å"care giving† phase he could have advocate for the patient and family that they must know about the patient’s prognosis and thus take their own decision. Finally in the â€Å"care receiving† phase then he could have got the success of the interventions done in the previous three phases. Counter arguments Though the survival rate was low but there was still hope and the physician just wanted to give chance to this young blood and was hopeful that there might be a small chance. Occasionally miraculous recoveries from comas are reported widely (Swinburn, Ali, Banerjee and Khan, 1999). As the family was very anxious and the patient’s father was a cardiac patient, in this situation the doctor did not want to inform the family promptly. (Literature support with statistics) (We should not give up). The family gave the rights to the physician to decide for the patient, so he claims that he was just doing for the benefit of the patient. Moreover, the doctor did not misinform the family but just kept them unaware of the situation because he thought that telling the truth may increase their anxiety level. The physician may support him through Mill’s autonomy which talks about the obligation to persuade others when they have false or views (Beauchamp Childress, 2001). Justification of my Position Even if the doctor was right in his position he still should have not taken the decision by himself. The decision to withhold or with draw is made by the physician in consultation with family members (Burkhardt ansd Nathaniel, 2008). Moreover, burden of the treatment outweigh the benefits. The reasons for continuing the futile treatment are primarily based on physician emotions, guilt, concerns about family and fear of legal consequences (Jox, Schaider, Marckmann Borasio, 2012). How the scenario could have changed The family should have informed about the patient situation, prognosis, possible interventions along with risk benefit ratio. Thus the physician would have remained loyal to his oath and obligation by not providing false assurance to the family, and also the family was to suppose face the grief anyway. After the brain death the patient should have weaned off form ventilator and by announcement of death the dead body should have processed with dignity. Thus there would have less financial burden on the family and also justice have maintained by providing chance to other critically ill patients. Recommendations There should be a clear policy at institutional level regarding patients with brain death. Moreover, health care provider should show adherence to the implementation of such policy. The nurse as an advocator should advocate on patient’s behalf and also involve hospital ethical committee. It should be responsibility of the hospital ethics committee to investigate such cases and consider further necessary action accordingly. Patient and family education is an utmost duty of healthcare professionals, specifically physician should involve family in the decision making process. Conclusion Being health care professionals we face ethical issues in patient care and treatment more often, when we are dealing with critically ill patients when they are at their most vulnerable. The situation of uncertainty and ambiguity is always there, but health care professional should be more accountable and sensible and should take decisions that are ethically and legally sound and should meet the patient and family values. References Beauchamp, T. L., Childress, J. F. (2001). Principles of biomedical ethics. (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. Burkhardt, M. Nathaniel, A. (2008). Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing (3rd ed.) Australia: Delmar. Bullock, M. R., Chesnut, R., Ghajar, J., Gordon, D., Hartl, R., Newell, D. W., Wilberger, J. (2006). Surgical management of traumatic parenchymal lesions. Neurosurgery, 58(3), S2-7-S2-62. doi: 10.1227/01.NEU.0000210363.91172.A8 Emanuel, E. J., Emanuel, L. L. (1992). Four models of the physician-patient relationship. Journal of the American Medical Association, 267(16), 2221-2226. Jox, R. J., Schaider, A., Marckmann, G., Borasio, G. D. (2012). Medical futility at the end of life: the perspectives of intensive care and palliative care clinicians. Journal of medical ethics, 38(9), 540-545. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2011-100479 Lachman, V. D. (2012). Applying the ethics of care to your nursing practice. MedSurg Nursing, 21(2), 112-116. Swinburn, J. M., Ali, S. M., Banerjee, D. J., Khan, Z. P., Cranford, R. E., Jennett, B. (1999). Discontinuation of ventilation after brain stem death. British Medical Journal, 318, 1753- 55. How Effective is Policy in Reducing Child Poverty? How Effective is Policy in Reducing Child Poverty? How effective is policy in reducing child poverty Despite the United Kingdom being one of the worlds richest nations, it has one of the highest rates of child poverty. Research has shown, children living in poverty are less likely to achieve at school and by the age of fourteen many poor children are two years behind their peers (Fisher, 2008). This would suggest, children living in poverty are more likely to leave school with fewer qualifications, unable to realise their full potential, therefore, are less likely to contribute fully to society. Since 1997, New Labour policy has intended to improve services to children and families as part of a wider strategy to tackle social exclusion and poverty in the UK (Blair. 2005). In 1999 the labour party set out to end child poverty in a generation. I will set out our historic aim, that ours is the first generation to end child poverty forever, and it will take a generation. It is a 20-year mission but I believe it can be done. Blair (1999, in Ridge, 2004) Blairs historic pledge to end child poverty moved the issue from the side-line to the centre of the policy agenda (Ridge, 2004). In ending child poverty, the DCSF has outlined four areas which it believes are key to achieving the goal. Getting more parents into work, providing financial support that matches family requirements, improving childrens life chances and creating safe cohesive communities in which children can thrive (Defries, 2009). The intention to end child poverty by 2020 has introduced various forms of incentives to single parents encouraging them back to work (Blair. 1999). The Government has introduced a guaranteed minimum income for families with children who are in full time employment and child care grants for parents wishing to return to work. In addition, the Government has also extended maternity leave to fifty two weeks in the hope of enticing mothers to work rather than claim benefits (Work Families Act. 2006). Government policies on tackling childhood pover ty will be examined further in this essay. This literature review will explore current opinion on the role Government policy and legislation plays in effectively reducing child poverty. Through Government documents, websites and peer reviewed academic journals; I aim to establish if literature supports the effectiveness of policy in reducing child poverty. This essay will give a brief history of various policies introduced to support children and their families and examine the driving force behind them. It will also look at alternatives to end child poverty and reduce dependency on Welfare state. In order to appreciate the term ‘poverty it is important to give a succinct description of what poverty is and how it is classed; Poverty has many manifestations, including lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Hunger, malnutrition, ill health and basic education has also been a consistent theme among children in poverty (Alcock, 2006). The Governments classification of poverty in the UK is based on income and resources. If these are so inadequate as to preclude you from having a standard of living which is regarded as acceptable by the Government, then you are said to be in poverty (Cullen, 2007). Currently the Government class all families with an income of less than 60% of the British median to be in poverty (Gentleman, 2009). This is slightly different than the calculations used in research completed by UNICEF, where homes with equivalent income below 50% of the nations median are said to be in poverty (UNICEF, 2009). Although there appe ars to be no one clear measure, the Governments definition underpins their strategic response to tackling child poverty. Therefore, for the purpose of this review, child poverty will be measured through family income. Poverty exists within a dynamic and changing social order and is, to some extent, created and recreated buy the social and economic policies that have been developed over time. The history of policies of child poverty can be dated back as far as the first Poor Law. Prior to the Poor Law, assistance with, and relief from poverty was provided by the church, relatives or the parish. Policy and poverty has consistently shaped the position of children who are poor within all aspects of the boarder social structure. To develop an understanding of child poverty it is necessary to have an insight of how child poverty has been represented over time. Historically, the voices of children living in poverty have rarely been heard. Laslett (1971) points out, that despite there being a large number of children in the pre-industrial world; they are missing from written record (Laslett, 1971. P110). Cunningham (1991) reiterates this by stating, â€Å"Early representations of child poverty have come from neither child nor the poor†. (Cunningham, 1991) Therefore, our understanding of the history of child poverty has been filtered through an adults perspective based on family circumstances. As a result, any historical account of children living in poverty needs to be embedded in a wider account of the social, economic and political developments over time (Ridge, 2004). With this in mind, this review will give a brief overview of the key factors of legislation. The first Poor Law was introduced to aid assistance to those who needed it. The first Poor Law legislation of 1388 in England was made in response to a particular social situation following a high death rate from the Black Death plague epidemic. During the 19th century children whose parents were impoverished came under the jurisdiction of the 1934 Poor Law. Two main systems of relief existed within this law; the workhouse and outdoor relief. The Poor Law commission assumed children should be treated the same as their parents. Consequently, children of the ‘able bodied poor were expected to follow their parents into the workhouses (Fletcher, 2005). This would have made it almost impossible for children living in poverty to break the cycle as once they were old enough to work they took their positions within the work house. Outdoor relief was typically given to able-bodied paupers in the form of clothing, food or even money. However, work was expected in return (Walker, 2008). The underlying notion of the Poor Act was to foster independence and self reliance, therefore reinforcing the inherent values of work. It could be argued that these values are still current today. This will be explored further in the essay. Due to the high mortality rates of single mothers who died in child birth, about 20% of the children in the workhouses were parentless (Fletcher, 2005). Whilst provision was made for the parentless children of the work house, no provision was made for the parentless beggar children from the street. The street children were very much left to provide for themselves. Many of the children turned to crime, this was portrayed in the film Oliver Twist which was written in the late 1830s (Ref). This again, would have made it extremely difficult for poor children to break the cycle of poverty and highlights the ineptness of the Poor Law. The Royal Commission on the Poor Laws, in the early part of the twentieth century, reflected on its ineffectiveness in the majority and minority reports (1909) (Glennerster et al, 2004) It was believed some of the poor were beyond relief and of those on relief, it was felt they should not continue to do as they please. That is, they should not choose not to work if they were able to (Ref). This is a clear parallel of debates regarding todays society and welfare reform, where the government are actively encouraging able bodied parents to work to reduce dependency on the welfare state (Ref). The minority report saw the causes of poverty as largely the result of basic structural factors in the economy and argued provision for the poor should become part of a range of services for the whole community. This proved a strong thread in the debate of the Poor Law and became the centrepiece of a campaign to abolish it (Glennerster et al, 2004). After the Second World War it became clear there needed a big idea to put an end to poverty. The social security reforms of the 1940s, based on the recommendations of the Beveridge Report (1942) aimed to give everyone economic security from the ‘cradle to the grave through the provision of benefit support (Alcock, 2006). The introduction to family allowances in 1946 undoubtedly improved services to children and was an effective tool in reducing the problem of child poverty (BBC Radio). This was just one of a number of initiatives used to raise the standards of living for children in poverty. Although, Family Allowances were initially only paid to families with more than one child, this was later converted into Child Benefit and paid for all children and all families regardless of income (ref). This was to encourage low income families to work as they would still get some kind of benefit for their children regardless of income. However, due to the changes in family structure a high number of family break downs occurred, consequently the numbers of one-parent families grew. This made it very difficult for single parents as many were largely unable to work due to their child care responsibilities so many children remained poor. It could be argued that single parents fell through Beverages safety net as his reforms had only been intended to work as a family unit. This is a clear indication of the changes in family structure in a post modern Britain. It is widely recognised that family breakdowns are costly to the state with a high number of lone-parents claiming benefits. In 1905 a times editorial warned of relying too much on the state. He declared, parents had already been relieved of the duty of educating their children and now this was being used as an argument of relieving them from their duty of clothing them. He voiced his concern that children, in adulthood, may fail to take a productive role in society and instead rely heavily on the government when they in turn become parents. We have already made a serious inroad upon personal responsibility and a personal independence by relieving parents of their duty to educate their children. When we have done that, the argument will be stronger than ever for relieving them of the duty of clothing their children. But what are we to expect of our children when they in turn become parents. Their habit of looking to the state for their maintenance would be ingrained in them. However, without the state intervention there would undoubtedly have been no end to the squalor and disease with the century began. (Ref) It could therefore be argued that social policy has been effective in increasing living standards for children. Today many people believe they have gone too far and created a ‘nanny state. Can future governments do any better than those of the past? If not what will be the consequence of our children? needed a big idea to through national insurance. There was widespread support for the Beveridge plan and the post-war labour government pledged to make it a reality and the welfare state was born. This led to improved services for all, including education and a free national health service. This was largely welcomed by the nation. As the nation gradually became wealthier it was believed child poverty was becoming a thing of the past. By the 1990s however, it became clear that this was not the case. In the UK in 1991 the Child Support Act introduced major changes in the way the state intervenes in the financial support of children when parents separate (Burgoyne Millar, 1994). Previously, courts were responsible for setting and enforcing maintenance payments however, very few fathers paid anything for their children (Ref). The new approach required absent fathers to pay higher amounts for their children and enforced these payments much more rigorously than in the past. It could however be argued that the governments intentions of introducing the CSA was for the benefit of the state rather than the children, as a large number of lone-parents are unable to work. In which case the lone-parents receive no financial gain from the absent parent as any child support collected is simply deducted from their benefits. In 1996 the Child Poverty Action Group issued a report which indicated that one in four children were living in poverty (CPAG,). Although the destitution of the post-war days had gone, children were found to be living in conditions well below standards that we consider acceptable in todays society. Single parents are finding it extremely hard to exist on single parent benefit but many feel embedded in the poverty trap. It has been widely acknowledged that child care can be costly and the Governments scheme to assist with the cost of child care has been welcomed by many single parents wishing to return to work. However, many still find the costs too much even with support from the Child Care Grants. In addition to the cost of child care, many single mothers in a low-paying jobs battle with their imperative to keep a job so they can buy food and shelter for their children, and their responsibility to see the health, safety and education of their children. The needs of children can crea te a crisis when family needs overlap with demands of employers. This can discourage many employers from employing single parents. Theorists such as Bowlby, Stern, Clyman and Bucci (Gerhardt, 2004) have written much about the benefits of secure bonds for very young childrens development. In the case of Buccis theory, the development of a secure internal schema is given as much importance as the visible external schemas that practitioners strive to recognise and extend. It could therefore be argued, the Governments underlying aim to have as many adults working outside of the home as possible, regardless of the age of their children, is to the detriment of the long term social and emotional development of the children involved. A vital part of the Governments strategy to end child poverty was the introduction of Sure Start Centres where the intention is to ‘improve outcomes for all children. (Sure Start, 2008) However, the first brief for Sure Start centered on the goals of ‘helping prevent family breakdown and promoting readiness for school (Link, 2000. P94). The move towards Sure Start providing child care rather than purely child and family support could be viewed as a Government tool for removing parental choice and encouraging parents to work. In the year 2000, the Department for Education and Employment described Sure Start as ‘a cornerstone of the Governments drive to tackle child poverty and social exclusion. (DfEE, 2000) This aim supports the research of many interested organisations such as the Institute for Public Policy Research who stated in 1998 that ‘social inclusion is best promoted though enhanced employment opportunity (Oppenheim, 1998. P113) and that ‘poverty and deprivation in childrens families and in their neighbourhoods is associated with their performance at school. (Oppenheim, 1998. P139) This would suggest that literature supports the Governments views in building an educated workforce and supports the Sure Start family Centres aim to meet both the individual needs of the family to get an early start in education support to narrow the performance gap. Due to the ineffectiveness of the Poor Law policies of the nineteenth century, many self-help organisations were set up to offer help to those who needed it. Many of these charities remained independent of government control or influence. British social policy, in relation to child poverty acknowledges the major contribution of these organistions in promoting childrens needs. The importance of the functions and responsibilities of the voluntary sector are well documented. This was evident in the Wolfenden Report 1978 which viewed the voluntary sector as one of the four sets of institutions through which social needs are met(Taylor Woods, 2005). Changes in society, to some degree, have caused poverty. Work for unskilled men and women have become more difficult to find. The wages paid for unskilled workers is far less, therefore creating a huge wage divide for skilled and unskilled workers. Poverty today is not just about money, it is also about feeling of worthlessness in society. Many pathways have been blocked and more and more people are finding it increasing difficult to break free from poverty cycle due to employers requiring skilled workers. People becoming The social security system is complex and the ongoing use of mean-testing for assessing eligibility for benefits may prevent some families from making claims this could prevent some children from being ‘lifted out of poverty. All parents including lone-parents, have been encouraged to take up paid work through the vigorous promotion of employment opportunities and child care support coupled with the policing of benefit use. It is increasingly evident that Britain is investing in children today in recognition of the children as the ‘future adults and future workforce of our society. Literature acknowledges that a countrys success is progressively tied to its workforce (Melhuish et al, 2008). Britain isnt alone in recognising that the future workforce is dependent on our children and requires investing in them.