Ailede Çocuğun Bireysel Varlığı Üzerine Eleştirel Bir Değerlendirme: Temsil mi, İhmal mi?

Abstract

This study provides a critical assessment of the impact of family-centered social policy regulations in Turkey on children’s individual rights. Although the support packages introduced under the declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family” initially appear to prioritize children’s welfare, they primarily aim to strengthen the family institution, positioning children not as independent subjects but as instruments of demographic and economic objectives. In particular, regulations that apply only to children born after a certain date exclude the existing child population and deepen inequalities. Such approaches render children invisible within the family and overshadow their developmental needs. The study discusses the instrumentalization of children within both family and state contexts, addressing cultural as well as structural dimensions. It highlights how cultural norms and family practices shape children’s identity development, autonomy, and social representation, while patriarchal and hierarchical family structures can restrict these processes. Family power dynamics directly influence children’s decision-making capacity, and in migrant or multicultural contexts, new opportunities and risks simultaneously emerge. Findings reveal that children’s rights are subordinated to economic and demographic goals. Neglect of children’s rights to education, health, and cultural participation not only hinders individual development but also reinforces social inequalities. The study argues for reshaping family-oriented policies through child-centered approaches. Developing rights-based, culturally sensitive, and participatory policies can secure both children’s individual subjectivity and their sense of social belonging, offering a sustainable framework for policy-making.