Families and Social Policy Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is social policy?
A law/ guideline introduced by the government to address social issues e.g family life/education/healthcare
What is the overall functionalist view of social policy?
-State acts in interests of society as a whole. Policies are good for all
-Social policy is beneficial for society as it helps families better perform their functions e.g health/ education policies help socialise children/ caring for welfare of its members
-march of progress view
What is Fletchers view on family and social policy?
-Introduction of health, education. and housing policies after industrial revolution led to welfare state
-Welfare state= family meet functions better e.g economic needs
-NHS provisions mean we are more able to care for members when they are sick
How can the functionalist view of social policy be criticised?
-‘March of progress view’ overlooks negative impacts of policies e.g cutting welfare benefits to poor families
-Not all policies benefit all family members equally, some only benefit men (Feminist)
-Donzelot would see social policy as an agent for social control
What is Donzelots view of family policy?
Argues that social policies allow social agents e.g doctors, social workers, health visitors to exercise control and surveillance the family, mostly w/c
-Uses Foucalts concept of surveillance to suggest power diffused through society
How does Condry support Donzelots view?
-state imposes compulsory parenting orders and parenting classes for parents of young offenders/truants to teach them the ‘correct’ way to bring up their children
-This is simply a method to control family life
According to Donzelot, why are w/c families more likely to be policed?
-Seen as the cause of crime/antisocial behaviou/ ‘problem families’ so professionals target them for ‘improvement’
How can Donzelots view be criticised?
Marxists and feminists argue he doesnt clealy identify who benefits from the surveilance policies e.g m/c or women
What is the new Right view on current social policies and the nuclear family?
Current policies are undermining the ideal nuclear family by encouraging family diversity/ dysfunctional family types and reducing self-reliance
-Social policy should instead support the nuclear family as this is capable of providing for all of its members/self-reliance
What laws undermine the nuclear family according to the new right
-Civil partnerships= send message that the state no longer sees heterosexual marriages as superior
-Laws that make divorce easier= undermines the idea that marriage is a lifelong commitment
Why is Murray critical of the welfare state?
-overgenerous welfare benefits that encourages dysfunctional family types such as SPF by offering perverse incentives
According to Murray, what irresponsible behaviours can generous welfare state lead to?
-fathers abandoning responsibilities to children/family as state provides
-encourages teenage pregnancies via council housing
-encourages LPF leading to crime in young males due to lack of male role models
What two essential functions do welfare benefits threaten?
People rely on state not selves, so
-Maintainance of work ethic among men
-Succesful socialisation of the young
What is the New Rights solution?
Cutting down benefits eligibality and welfare spending
-Policies implemented that favour nuclear family e.g taxes that benefit married couples as well as making absent fathers financially responsible
-State should reduce interference in family life to increase self reliance
how can the new right view be criticised?
-Ignores idea that many policies do already support nuclear family e.g maternity leave
-Assumes NF is natural rather than socially constructed; Feminists argue the perspective is an attempt to reinstate subordination of women in patriarchal NF
What influence did the New right have on conservative policies (1979-97)
-Thatcher; banning promotion of homosexuality/teachings in schools
- Child Support Agency implemented to enforce maintenance payments from absent fathers
-However divorce made easier
New Labour governments policies (1997-2010)
+Believed that married heterosexual couple is the best for bringing up children
However; supported state intervention and favoured neo-conventional family rather than nuclear
-The New Deal; to help lone parents reenter work
-support for alternative family types;
-civil partnerships, adoption for unmarried couples
How did the New Right influence Conservative gov from 2010
-No consistent New Right policies implemented (modernisers that support family diversity vs traditionalists)
Same sex marriage,Free childcare
undermine NR view
-Austerity policies e.g welfare cuts support NR but lead to poverty= more people using foodbanks than before so reduced self-reliance
What is the feminist view on the family and social policy?
-Conflict view
Social policy reinforce patriarchy ) by maintaining womens subordinate position e.g maternity leave= women are caregivers
According to Feminists, how is social policy a self fulfiling prophecy?
Land
Policy based on traditional norms e.g Nf with a male provider and female homemaker, these norms then reinforced in society, limiting womens positions
What policies support the patriarchal nuclear family
-Inadequate childcare so women restricted from working (AO3- introduction of 15hrs free childcare)
-Lack of care for sick and elderly; assumes family(mostly women) will provide care
-Maternity leave encourages view mother is solely responsible for infant
-tax incentives for married couples propose norm of marriage= more people marry,
How can the feminist view be evaluated?
-Some policies improve womens position e.g rape within marriage is a crime (1991), equal pay, sex discrimination
What was Chinas One child policy and how did it impact familys?
-To limit population growth to one child per family
-free benefits/ higher tax allowances as incentive
-Only children got priority education and housing in later life
-Some forced abortions
What was a major policy change in communist Russia?
-restriction on contraception and abortion to drive up birth rate. Legal marriage age 15 and unmarried indiduals paid more tax
