Huolen tematiikat lapsia, nuoria ja lapsiperheitä koskevissa eduskuntaesityksissä vuosina 1970–2020

Authors

• Linda Määttä Vantaan ja Keravan hyvinvointialue
• Timo Harrikari Helsingin yliopisto
• Essi Julin Helsingin yliopisto

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30668/janus.136653

Abstract

CONCERN IN MP’S PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS REGARDING CHILDREN, THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN 1970–2020

The article reviews how the political debate regarding children, the youth and families has changed quantitatively in the Finnish Parliament between 1970 and 2020 (N=12,005). This article examines how MPs are signaling their concern and what factors are related to the political and social capital of an MPs are connected to changes in the concern debate.

The connection between MPs' political and social capital and concern-themed parliamentary motions is examined using binary logistic regression analysis, and quantitative changes in concern signaling are examined using quantitative review. The results show that there are two concern dimensions: the protection of minors and the control-centered dimension. Since the 1990s, issues related to the concern theme for children, the youth and families became politicised. The concern that is rising in parliament is linked to the right-wing conservatives interpret childhood, adolescence, and family life in particular. The dynamics of the parliamentary motions also reflect the political power game and the culture of fear that guides modern society.