Childcare professionals working in childcare agencies predominantly work with women clients. This book identifies and analyzes the multiple abuses of women within childcare work. The authors rely on the abundant evidence of such abuse in research, childcare literature, child abuse enquiry reports, and on their combined forty years experience of childcare practice. Although many abuses occur at the point of contact between childcare professionals and women clients, the origins and causes of the abuses often lie elsewhere; in childcare law for example, or in childcare training; in developmental theories, organizational structure, or in too-hastily formulated policies and procedures. Each of these and many more potentially abusive factors are explored; so too are the dilemmas they pose for many professionals who are fully aware of that abusive potential. The authors stress that uncomplicated and not-too-challenging changes can be made to ensure that the abuse of women within childcare systems can be drastically curtailed.