Families And Social Policy Flashcards
(24 cards)
What does fletcher believe about family Policy?
The introduction of health, education and housing policies since the Industrial Revolution gradually led to welfare state that supports family in performing functions
Critiques of fletchers beliefs on family policy
Donzelot
‘Policing of families
Marxists
Policies only benefit bourgeoisie
What does donzelot believe about family policy?
Critique of functionalist perspective
Policy is a form of state power/ control over family
‘Policing of families’- professionals carry out surveillance of family e.g. social workers and health visitors
- this is more likely to happen to poor families
Policies that support he new rights views on family
Civil partnership act 2004
The marriage act 2013
Section 28
What does Morgan believe about family policy?
The New right
The state has become too involved in the family
It has become the breadwinner and the child carer
State has allowed high divorce rates which is damaging for children
What does state as the ‘bread winner’ mean?
Benefits for workless single parents- financial incentive to separate/ stay single because less is paid in benefits to two married parents
What does state as the ‘child carer’ mean?
Increased support for childcare- mothers no longer need male breadwinners support. Encourages women to work rather than care for their own children
What does Murray believe about family policy?
New Right
Critical of welfare policy as it provides perverse incentives
Cureernt polices encourage dependency culture and the emergence of an underclass
Solution
Cuts to welfare spending and tighter restrictions on who qualifies for benefits
What is meant by ‘perverse incentives’?
Rewarding irresponsible behaviour through the welfare state
E.g. benefits, housings
Critiques of Murrays view on family policy
Marxists- new right is making the gap bigger as a result of cuts of welfare, forces people to get jobs and contribute of capitalism
Critiques of Morgans views on family policy
Radical feminists- women should not feel oppressed/confined as a result of the New Right not liking divorce
What does Somerville believe about family policy?
Principled pragmatism helps to liberate women and have them become more free form the patriarchy
She believes that equality will come from slow policy reform
Critique of Somervilles views on family policy
Radical feminists think this is too optimistic , we need faster change
What does Leonard believe about family policy?
Even when policies appear to support women they end up enforcing patriarchal control
E.g. mat + pat leave
Policies turn into self fulfilling prophecy as it reinforces patriarchal control
E.g women should take care of children > women will take time off of work > mat leave longer than pat leave> women taking care of children more
Critique of Leonards beliefs
Liberal Feministsbelieve in principled pragmatism
Examples of policies that have helped
2020- divorce, dissolution and separation act
2010- equality act- pregnancy is a protected characteristic
What does Drew believe about family policy?
There are 2 regimes
Familistic gender regimes
- policies based on traditional male breadwinner and female housewife
- e.g. Greece- little state welfare
Individualistic gender regimes
- policies based on equality between husbands and wives
- wives not assumes to be financially dependent on husbands
- e.g. Sweden- equal opportunities
What did the 1970 equal pay act do?
Prevented discrimination between men and women in regards to terms and conditions of employment
What did the 2002 adoption act do?
Allowed same sex couples to adopt children along with married, unmarried and single people.
What did the 2013 same sex marriage act do?
Introduced civil marriage for same sex couples in England and wales
Churches were saved from being forced of officiate same sex marriages
What did the 2002 employment act do?
Made 2 week paternity leave available
What did the 2020 divorce, dissolution and separation act do?
Made no fault divorce legal
What did the 2010 equality act do?
This made pregnancy a protected characteristic against discrimination
What did the 2004 civil partnership act do?
created a union at that time for same sex couples (not equal to marriage)
What did section 28 do?
Put a ban on teaching homosexuality as an acceptable relationship in school
