Families & Households Flashcards
(167 cards)
1
Q
George Murdock (1949)
A
“the fam = a social group chara by common residence, Econ coop, & reproduction”
includes adults of both sexes at least 2 of who maintain a socially approved rela & 1/m children own / adopted of the sexually cohabiting adults
2
Q
Stable Satisfaction of Sex Drive
Functions of the Family
A
w/ same partner preventing the soc disruption caused by sexual ‘free for all’
3
Q
Reproduction of Next Generation
Functions of the Family
A
w/o soc wouldn’t continue
4
Q
Meeting it’s Members’ Economic Needs
Functions of the Family
A
food & shelter
5
Q
Socialisation of the Young
Functions of the Family
A
into soc’s shared norms & values
6
Q
Evidence Supporting Murdock
A
studied 250 socs of dif cultures = good breadth - saw in each of these socs nuclear fams existed - saw them providing the 4 funcs
7
Q
Evidence against Murdock
A
some argue funcs could be performed equally well through other instis / non-nuclear fam - M accepts but argues practicality of nuclear fam as a way of meeting needs explains why = universal
M’s & Fems have rejected ‘rose tinted’ harmonious consensus view that fam meets needs of wider soc & all dif mems of fam - argues func neglects conflict & exploitation - fems see fam as serving male needs & oppressing women - M’s argue meets cap needs not fam / soc as whole
8
Q
Functional Fit Theory
Parsons
A
argued funcs like fam performs depend on social construction it exists in - will fit the needs of soc it is found in - other funcs = welfare, politics, religion
funcs it performs affects its shape / structure - fams can = nuclear / extended fam can exist = 3 gens
9
Q
Primary Socialisation
A
sim to Mur’s edu role Parsons agreed fams taught children soc norms & values - specifically ns & vs of fam / commun - other institutions schools etc taught universal norms of wider soc
10
Q
Stabalisation of Adult Personalities
A
helped prevent dsyfunc adult behav - encourage conform to soc norms - provide emotional sup
warm bath theory - when man comes home from tough day at work can relax into fam like warm bath & would take away stress & refrech for next day - husband has instrumental role focus = achieving success at work - financial support = bread winner - wife = expressive role - focus PS of children and meeting emo needs = home maker
11
Q
Types of Society
A
modern Indust - nuclear fits needs = dom fam type
trad pre indust = extended fam
12
Q
Parsons & Types of Society
A
said post-indust soc had 2 essen needs = geo mobile workforce - ppl need to move to where jobs are = easier for compact nuc fam to move & socially mobile workforce - mod industrial based on constantly evolving sci & tech so requires tech skilled work force = essen talented ppl = able to win promo & take NB jobs - fam hierarchy w/in Hholds can make soc mobility dif so nuc = better
13
Q
Loss of Function
A
pre-indust fam = multi func unit = prod & comsump = m self suf than mod - met most indu & soc needs - Parsons said when soc indust fam changes struc to nuclear & loses func - no longer prod unit work moves to facs = consump unit loses m other funcs - means nuc fam specialises in essential funcs of PS & SofAPs
14
Q
Evidence Supporting Parsons
A
comp to Murdock does take account for changes over time
15
Q
Laslett (1972)
Evidence Against Parsons
A
study of Eng fams 1564 - 1821 =-257 almost always nuc - combo of late child bearing and short life expectancy meant GPs died shortly after birth of 1st Gchild
16
Q
Micheal Anderson (1980)
Evidence Against Parsons
A
explained pop of WC extended fam via exchange theeory- shows harsh conditions pov, sickness, early death meant benefits out weighed costs - elders could care for children & orphaned relatives = extra income for rent
17
Q
General Evaluation of Parsons
A
= deterministic - no free will says we act how soc says
out of date - womens rights have changed no longer expressive role which exploits & oppresses
ignores changing marriage norms inc divorce rates & diversity
overly positive - assumes fam = haven of pos no neg impact of fam on soc eg abuse / dom violence
assumes value consensus - m access to info = m diversity
18
Q
Marxist Perspective on Family
A
Nuclear family is a tool of capitalism
Main func is to maintain cap & reinforce inequalities- func also lies w/ other institutions eg edu
19
Q
Inheritance of Wealth
A
After indust rev wealth began to inc through cap & w/ this came the development of priv prop
Engel claimed this change in owning property brought about the monogamous nuc fam - monog = necessary to ensure men w/ wealth passed property onto biological children
Keeps wealth in hands of Bour & maintains their Soc power enabling them to continue leading & exploiting WC
20
Q
Reproduction - Marxist Feminism
A
Cap exploits women - Engel claimed this era brought women’s sexuality under male control & turned her into a prod of children
Housewives provide free care which keeps w’s productive but also keeps women oppressed & powerless
Created future w force to serve cap & enabled the wealth to stay w/ bour through inheritance
21
Q
Socialisation - M
A
Althusser argues family performs key ideological funcs for cap promotes views that naturalise & legitimise existence of Soc classes presenting them as fair & unchangeable - commun to children by parents through socialisation into social hierarchy - leads to false class consciousness where ppl misperceive pos in soc = unable to recog inequal oppression & exploitation - prevents Rev
22
Q
David Cooper
Marxism
A
Supported socialisation - sees fam as ‘ideological conditioning device’ - children learn to conform to auth so coop & are easily exploited
23
Q
Cushioning Effects
A
Zaretsky (1976) another ideological func fams perform is offering haven from exploitation
At home can be selves & have private life - sim to warm bath theory
Argues warm bath is illusion haven only serves to maintain cap by soothing the exploitation of WC by bour to prevent soc rev
24
Q
Unit of Consumption
Marxism
A
Zaretsky (1976) owners of prod exploit w’s labour for profit
Fam plays Maj role in gen profit by purchasing consumer goods on market
Adverts urge fams to keep up w/ the joneses - all latest consumer prods - target children = m susceptible to persuasion - those that don’t have the latest products = mocked / stigmatised- maintains cap by inc profs of bour who own consumer market
25
Strengths of Marxist Approach
Social construction - highlights econ influs on family life & raises the possibility that the family as an institution benefits some Soc groups - upper classes - m than others fits needs of cap
Shows dark side of fams - provided starting point for M - Fems describes econ exploitation of women w/in the fam & personal relas - also provided useful analysis of how broad structural changes in Soc might have influ fam life
26
Family Diversity
| Criticism of Marxist Approach
Only acknowledge nuclear fams as funcs of cap - wide variety of family strucs found today = ignored
27
Overly negative
| Criticism of Marxist Approach
Funcs argue M’s ignore benefits that the fam provides for its mems & for Soc such as emotional support & comfort = overly negative to state fams exist for cap is not a very positive romantic take on marriage - fams = m than inheritance security = overly simplistic
28
Feminism
| Criticism of Marxist Approach
Whilst M-F elab on M to acknowledge how nuclear fam structure serves cap oppresses women
Fems crit M for neglecting the exploitation of women - argue the emphasis on class & cap - underestimates the Nbance of gender inequals in the fam - this = m NB than class inequals - fam serves men primarily X cap
29
Outdated
| Criticism of Marxist Approach
assumes the only w in fam = male - changes to women's rights means = outdated view - now both parents work
outdated about work exploitation = strict laws to protect rights & TUs so family not needed as a haven
30
New Right
conservice anti-fem view - nuc fam = best w/ clear cut roles between homemaker wife & bread winner husband
nuc fam = cereal packet fam = bedrock of soc acting as an independent unit - doesn't seek state welfare
= best pos to = self reliant & capable of caring for mems esp successful soc of children
= place of refuge contentment & harmony
31
Family Diversity Causes Problems
oppose fam div & mod changes - argue this esp growth of lone parent fams cause soc probs
1. lone mums can't discipline children properly
2. lone parent fams leave boys w/o male role model - edu failure, delinq & soc instability
3. such fams likely to = poorer so burden on tax payer & welfare
32
Dependency Culture
| Charles Murray 1988
argued gov welfare policies particularly state funding & soc attitudes have combo to undermine nuc fam
= over gen benefits to single mums - allows fathers to opt out of respon for raising & providing for fam
depen cul - underclass lives off benefits - no aspiration to work - teen pregnancy fav - get benefits
suggested Murdock's econ func done by gov for LC by gov so dont have to have a working parent - no incentive to work on relas & keep fam together - encours larger fams which are less likely to be self suf
33
Deviant Sons
| Charles Murray 1988
argues m young men chose not to work - may turn to crime & drugs - grew up w/o male role model / wage earner
lack of male role models in mainstream soc - w/in female headed underclass fam dependent on state benefits the disciplines & respons of normal soc breakdown - negatively impacts econ growth
34
Harry Benson (2017)
| Supporting New Right
link between broken homes & teenage mental health = well estab
boys m likely to have behav probs & girls emo probs
1/8 teenagers report poor mental health & poor home life is commonly cited as the reason
35
Harry Benson (2006)
| Supporting New Right
analysed data on over 15,000 babies - found rate of fam breakdown in 1st 3 yrs of birth = 20% cohab / 6% married
argued couples = m stable if married - requires deliberation commitment - only way to prevent social disintergration & damage to children is to return to trad values of marriage - gov should sup marriage in policies
eg denying council housing to unmarried mums & taxes fav nuc fam
36
Dennis & Erdos (1992)
| Supporting New Right
children esp sons in single p Hholds w/ absent dads have:
poorer health, lower levels of edu achievement, worse life choices, higher levels of unemployment & crime - attribute to lack of male role model & primary socialisation
37
Problems w/ Dennis & Erdos (1992)
= correlational research - directional issues
shape to data the way they want
other reasons - bad friend choice / poorer background
38
Statistics
| Supporting New Right
single parent fams 2x m likely to experience pov
kids from broken homes = 9x m likely to = young offens
family breakdown costs UK £40 billion a year
39
The Marriage Foundation (2019)
60% of single parents recieve welfare benefits = 10% married parents
51% of sep fams = previously unmarried = unstable
40
Strengths of the New Right
like func acknowledge the fam is beneficial to soc
offers solu in changes to soc pol for breakdown of fam & impact on soc
41
Sexist Views
| Criticisms of the New Right
fems argue holds sexist views of women - views = attempt to justify returning to num fam structure that oppresses & exploits women
42
Ann Oakley (1997)
| Criticisms of the New Right
wrongly assumes nuclear fam = natural X soc construction
AO argued gender roles are not bio & cross cul studies reveal GRs differ cross cul
43
Lack of Evidence
| Criticisms of the New Right
makes moralistic value judgements that the nuclear fam = better than single p = little / no evidence that lone p fams = part of the dependency cul that raises delinquents
44
Victim Blaming
| Criticisms of the New Right
blames the poor for their poverty rather than seeking explans for why ppl find they need gov sup
45
Marxist Criticisms
| Criticisms of the New Right
would argue = pol pos not socio explan used as ideo justification for cap = convenient case for cutting public spending on welfare to benefit the rich
46
Abbot & Wallace (1992)
| Criticisms of the New Right
cutting benefits would only cause greater poverty for poor fams & make them less self reliant
47
Feminist Perspective of the Family
family = soc insitu = tool of female oppres & nuc fam serves male needs X women = unequal labour division & dom violence
soc young into gender roles = unequal
48
Dual Burden
Ann Oakley concl women have dual burden = emo support & dom labour
49
Triple Shift
Duncombe & Marsden - emo work added to paid work & unpaid dom labour
50
Malestream Sociology
refers to the way socios will apply reasearch data col about men to lives of women despite dif expers
51
Liberal Feminist Approach
camp against sex discrim - want legal equal rights & oppurs - solu to ending the patri
eg Sex Discrimination Act & Equal Pay Act
52
Liberal Feminist:
women's oppression being grad overcome - changing attitudes & laws - many equal barriers = removed - not prisoners of feminine mystic - set of constraining attitudes - only housewife & mother
are moving towards greater equal - depends of future reform
53
Liberal Feminist View of Family
'march of progress view' - Willmott & Young (1973)
54
Early Industrial Society
| Willmott & Young (1973)
nuc fams - men move to towna for work - women in dom roles
segregated gender roles - causes oppress of women
55
Modern Industrial Society
| Willmott & Young (1973)
symmetrical fam - by 1973 nuc fams = less segregation - both sexes work & contrib chores, share joint conjugal roles - men spend m time at home - m united
56
Jennifer Sommerville (2000)
4 main areas of change: changes in gov pol (women's rights) duel earning households (female careers) changes in parenting & social attitudes
acknowledges some still feel sense of grievance - should use policy reform X rev change
57
Jennifer Sommerville (2000) Focuses
policies to help working parents - working long hours & m job culs = X compat w/ fam life
equality between men & women = dif to maintain esp if woman takes part time work for childcare rather than husband
58
Intersectional Feminists
| Evaluation of Liberal Feminists
reject idea all exper gender oppress & inequal in homogeneous way
encourage intersectional lense to consider complex strucs that lead to inequal
believe lib fems describe false universality based on white MC exper = ethnocentric
59
Radical Feminists
| Evaluation of Liberal Feminists
argue lib fems fail to challenge underlying causes of women's oppression - changing laws not enough - need fundem soc changein struc
60
Ann Oakley
| Evaluation of Liberal Feminists
lib fems overstate progress w/in fams - sym fam = flawed as small contribs to housework by men consid sym - argues dual burden
61
Overlooks Women's Choice
| Evaluation of Liberal Feminists
critics argue ignores some women choosing expressive role & part time / flexible work - aren't forced to undertake dom chores / childcare choose to
62
Evidence for Progress
| Evaluation of Liberal Feminists
studies suggest men do m dom labour & parents are soc sons & daughters equally
successful fem campaigns mean women could vote from 1918
Equal Pay Act 1970
Sex Discrim Act 1975
63
Marxist Feminist Approach
view cap & patri as insep systems - main form of oppress = cap - relies on unpaid dom female labour - this exploit reinforces patri power strucs
abol cap = needed to tackle patri
64
Soft Solutions
| Marxist Feminists
* payments for invisible work
* closing pay gap
65
Hard Solutions
| Marxist Feminists
* rev to overthrow cap systems
66
Marxist Feminist View of the Family
cause of oppress = men & cap - linked to exploitation of WC
fams help to preserve cap & patri - cap gets ben of unpaid work & male workforce are fed, looked after & kept happy to ensure work hard
67
3 Functions Women Perform
| Marxist Feminist
1. reproduction - Beechy - new labour force
2. reserve army of cheap labour - Beechy - later in soc acknow women do take paid work then returen to childcare
3. absorbers of anger - Ainsley - warm bath, cushioning effect - women = takers of s**t
68
Outdated
| Marxist Feminist Evaluation
women no longer reserve army of cheap labour have equal rights & as likely to be bread winner
assumes nuc fam = dom ignores other fam strucs
69
Oppresssion in Non-capitalist Societies
| Marxist Feminist Evaluation
china - women face greater gender inequal
2018 gender pay gap = 22%, only 17% of senior employ pos = women, = 31% UK, = imbal pol rep 6/25 mems of politburo = women
70
Provides Insight into Women's Role in Capitalism
| Marxist Feminist Evaluation
provides insight into intersectional fems - acknow rela between soc class & oppress of fems
Bour fems argue also oppress - backs up M ideas of fam & how serves cap
uncovers some issues related to dark side of fam - abuse
71
Radical Feminist Approach
all socs based on patri - oppose pol & soc orgs tied to this
men = enemy - source of oppress & exploitation
take militant approach - changing law will never be enough on its own - men will always oppress - women should find alt ways of living
72
Gender Sepraratism
women must org selves to live independen from men
73
Political Lesbianism
hetrosexual relas = inevitability oppressive = sleeping w the enemy
74
Matrilocal Households
all female households - Greer
75
Radical Feminist View of Family
fam & mar = key insitus in patri soc
girls = soc to believe oppressors & inequal = norm & so accept inequal of fam life
76
Delphy & Leonard (1992)
men benefit from women's unpaid dom lab & sexual services & dom through DV & sexual violence
most heads of Hholds = men - make decisions - provides £ - other mems work unpaid - dom & sexual lab = female respon - amount inheri = based on pos in fam X work - sons often done less - man has greater control over prop & £ - working women shoulder dom burden
77
Greer (2000)
= strong ideology that wife = m NB aspir & will = subserv - high div rate shows mar makes women unhappy
motherhood offers little sat & soc does't value mothers' work - expected to regain figures quickly & return to work
used as scapegoats for children's crime, unemployment & anti-social behav
daughters = sexually exploited - matrilocal = answer
78
Ignores March of Progress
| Evaluation of Radical Feminists
Sommerville (2000) crit for not recognition improvs - better access to div, contra & working rights
don't recog new DV legislation- 2015 - protect women from violent & abusive behav - arguement against sep
79
Solutions are Unobtainable
| Evaluation of Radical Feminists
sep & matrilocal HHs = unob - so rev would face resistance from system
Sommerville (2000) = unrealistic - hetro attraction & innate need for intimacy makes sep unlikely
80
Inaccurate Depiction of Family
| Evaluation of Radical Feminists
not all fams = nuc/ patri
not all HHs exper abuse
funcs would argue bens to monog hetero relas
some women value child-rearing & dom roles as sig & nec w/in soc & rationally decide to form trad nuc fam struc (Hakim 1995)
81
Strengths
| Evaluation of Radical Feminists
* plausible explan for how women = reliant on men via child bearing & how leads to oppression & exploit
* hold powerful place in soc - camp for clear gender inequals in soc that = detri
* evidence of dual burden & triple shift - 2x childcare & 64% m time on chores than men
* ME TOO campaign & Harvey Weinstein scandal show harrassment & SA of women = common
82
Difference Feminist Approach
reject idea all women exper opp & gender inequal in homogeneuos way
MC V WC, White V Black, Lesbian V Hetero
83
Difference Feminist View of Family
use intersectional lense to consider complex interactions of strucs w/in fam that lead to gender inequal
lib fems = ethnocentric - false universality based on western MC white woman - by viewing fam as purely neg ignore bens felt by black fems - sup againsts racism
84
Strengths of Difference Feminist Approach
emphs NBance of indu difs between expers of women in fams
recogs dif fam strucs beyond trad nuc fam
85
Criticisms of Difference Feminist Approach
dif to research & gen wider pops - Black fem
X acknow women share many sim expers w/in fam inc risk of DV, SA, & low pay
86
Overly Negative
| Criticisms of Feminist Approach
sim to M's paint too neg pic - whilst some fams may = unequal & male dom = some m equal
87
Outdated
| Criticisms of Feminist Approach
ignore idea of women as bwinners - nature of fam has changed - lib rad and M fems base arguments on trad fam
88
Underestimates Women as Passive
| Criticisms of Feminist Approach
post mod fems highlight women don't have to accept the patri & don't have to choose between fam & equality - can resist & assert own power
Hakim - fem ignores that some choose expressive roles
ignores power of women to abuse men
89
Strengths of Feminism
camp for worthy cause - clear gender inequality still prevelent
give idea of fam life through view of women
uncovers issues in darkside of fam & patri nature of fam
intersectional fems iden diveristy of fam life through age class & ethnicity
90
Post Modernist Approach
fam life = less stable - struc no longer dict by trad = m choice in relas - creates m diverse fam strucs - no longer 1 single dam & uni fam type
91
Giddens (1992)
| Pre Industrial Rev
changes in soc have led to changes in relas in fam life - partic w/ sexual partners
b4 C18 = econ basis of mar - choice based on wealth & how would work in unit of prod
92
Giddens (1992)
| 18th Century
= change mar for love - choices made for physical attraction, compat & fulfill - emerging love = focused of many novels, paintings & poems - idea love lasts 4ever & relas = long lasting
rom love led to dom of men - women expected to preserve virginity for perfect man
93
Giddens (1992)
| Plastic Sexuality
after intro of contraception changed = greater freedom & choice - sex no longer just for repro - women have greater choice over sex lives = Plastic Sexuality & reflected reflexitivity in post mod soc
94
Giddens (1992)
| Confluent Love
whilst rom love = ideal in W culs conflu love emerged - women no longer accept male sexual dom
= bottom up approach - stay in relas bc love & satisfy each others needs = pure rela
95
Giddens (1992)
| Pure Relationships
only contin as long as both are benefitting - personal hap = paramount - created changed from LT relas to serial monogamy - formed foundations for needs based fam
96
Beck
fewer ppl getting married bc of inc in risk conciousness - see nearly 1/2 of mars = div
reflects individualisation & reflex in P-M soc - decisions = informed by observing soc & risks of mar - indu desires lead ppl to choose not to get married rather than influ by soc commitment
fam struc built on personal choice = nego fam - don't conform to trad fam norms - vary to needs of mems = dec stability - can leave - lone p fams created - creates zombie fams
97
Individualisation Thesis
Beck + Giddens = IT - emphasises role of personal choice & iden in formation of rom relas & fams
same sex fams = example - no trad soc norm
98
Stacey (1993)
associates change in fam w/ greater variety in fams following movement away from single dom fam type
conducted case study on P-M fam in California - women forged changed in fam - reject housewife role
P-M fam has destroyed the series of logical stages a fam progresses through - mar, children, empty nest, retirement, widow hood
new fam strucs - div extended fam
P-M fam = complete break away from trad template of nuc fam & an acceptance that ppl choose alt diverse fams
99
Strengths of Stacey
studied fam life in silicone valley = futuristic - features fam strucs ahead of trends elsewhere can be seen as shape of things to come
100
Weaknesses of Stacey
can we gen her findings eg to Brit
= questionable to what extent fam diveristy & P-M = common - 60% of children still born to married parents and start life as nuc fam
101
Criticising the Individualisation Thesis
| Personal Life Perspective
Smart & May agree w/ Giddens & Beck but disagree w/ explan
1. exags how much choice ppl have over relas - trad soc class & gen norms still exist & limit choices
2. sees ppl as indepen & free floating - ignores decisions occur in soc context
3. argued indu thesis = ethnocentric & only fits needs of white MC US men
102
View of Family
| Personal Life Perspective
reject M, F, F bc:
1. assume dom fam struc = nuc - ignores diversity
2. = too deterministic - ignore free will
takes bottom up approach - emphs meanings that ppl hold that shape their actions & relas - infu by interactionism & PM
103
Smart - The Connectedness Thesis
rejects assump of decline of fam life found in indu as ethno
views ppl as soc beings who = influ by network of relas & personal history = C Thesis
relas = beyond genetic relatedness that = those who = NB to ppl
104
Connectedness Thesis
1. relas w/ friends - might = like sister/ bro
2. fictive kin - treated like relatives - called auntie
3. gay & lesbian chosen fams - sup network of friends, ex-ps & others X rela by mar / blood
4. relas w/ dead - live in mems & contin to shape idens & actions
5. relas w/ pets - Tiper - children considered pets as part of fam
105
Donor Conceived Children
Nordqvist & Smart (2014) - looked at fams w/ d-c children to explain the NBance of PLP - found issue of blood & genes = mixed feelings
m emph NBance of soc relas over genetic ones in fam bonds
mothers noted their def of being mum = linked to time taken to raise their child m than genetics
106
Strengths of the Personal Life Perspective
helps understand how ppl construct & define relas instead of trad defs of fam
can explain diverse fam strucs - sups the validity as m plausible explan of fam
ackows intimacy & its NB funcs of providing sense of belonging & relatedness
recogs that ppl are active in contructing relas - crits NR's view of nuc fam - may be in decline but doesn't matter bc other relas can provide nec emo sup
107
Criticisms of the Personal Life Perspective
= too broad - fails to recog bens of nuc fam - stability fin sup & emo sups - m than pets
makes choosing nationally rep sample of fams v dif - so much diversity = dif to make gens
a US survey on friendship (2022) found = in decline - ppl report having fewer friends than 1990s - rely on less for emo sup - not as NB as suggested
fems crit indu - claim women are still seen as natural carers
108
Defining Social Policy
plans & actions of state agencies - health, soc services, welfare system, schools & other public bodies
usually based on laws introed by gov that provide framework w/in which these agencies operate
109
Direct Policies
promote/reject certain Hhold strucs - mar tax allowance, inher tax break for spouses
110
Indirect Policies
may not have intended impact on Hhold struc but once implemented do
Equal Pay Act 1970
111
Social Policy & the Family
material sup policies - working tax credits, universal credit, maternity pay
physical sip policies - early years childcare provision
112
Increased Cohabitation & Delayed Marriage
career aspirations of women mean they delay mar
have inc repro rights enabling couples to delay/ not have children
enables greater lifestyle choice & geo movement w/ m couples working apart/ travelling internat b4 starting fam
113
Increased Cohabitation & Delayed Marriage
| Social Policy
womens right to work delaying mar - EPA SDA
reproductive rights delaying, preventing childbirth - National Health Service Act (1967) - contraception on NHS & Abortion Act (1967)
114
Increased Divorce
inc breakdown of trad fam unit & m LP fams, lone person HHolds & m reconstituted fams
linked to women's econ indepen
creation of welfare state meant resident parent = m able to leave unhappy relas w/ greater fin sup to look after children
115
Increased Divorce
| Social Policy
div reform act (1968) enabled no fault div request to be made - div after 2 yrs if both agree 5 if only 1
div, dissolution & separation act (2020) reformed legal process removing blame can request together
Beveridge report (1942) - introed welfare state benefit, single parent benefit, uni credit, child & housing benefit
116
Lone Parent Families
a consequence of inc div - 1 in 4 dependent children live in lone parent fam = 3x 1971
117
Lone Parent Families
| Social Policy
child support agency locates non resident parent if not paying child maintenance
adoption act (1976) gave single hetero indus the right to adopt
adoption & children act (2002) gave single & LGBTQ+ indus right to adopt
118
Same Sex Couples
one of m sig fam struc changes as a result of change to legis & social policy - grown by 50% since 2015
119
Same Sex Couples
| Social Policy
Equal Mar Act (2013)
Civil Partnership Act (2004)
Sexual Offences Act (1967) - decrim homosexual acts between men
Adoption & Children Act (2002) legis of adoption & IVF treatments for s-s fams 2023 20% of adopts = s-s couples
section 28
120
Conservative Policies 1979-97
Thatcher & Major
influ by NR - focus = strengthening nuclear fam, sturc & roles emph self help & reliance by red welfare
121
Conservative Policies 1979-97
| Examples
child sup agency (1993)
children's act I (1989) - child protection
mar men's tax allowance
section 28 - banned teaching of homo in edu
illegit children given same rights as those w/ mar parents
122
New Labour Policies 1997-2010
Blair & Brown
still under influ of NR = m progressive - fav duel earning fams over trad roles - gave some sup to alt fams but pref hetero nuc fam
123
New Labour Policies 1997-2010
| Examples
parenting order for those w/ unruly kids
longer mat leave
new deal
allowed unmarried & some s-s adopt
working fam tax credit
civil partnership act
124
Coalition Government Policies 2010-15
Clegg & Cameron
v inconsistent due to conflict between
modernists - acceptance of fam diversity
trads - fav nuc fam
125
Coalition Government Policies 2010-15
| Examples
removed couples penalty from tax credits
introed shared parental leave
equal mar act
126
Conservative Policies 2016-24
May, Johnson, Truss & Sunak
m concerned w/ brexit - but did return to NR focus
127
Conservative Policies 2016-24
| Examples
reintroed mar couples tax allowance
2 child cap on tax credits
civil parntership for hetero couples
128
China's One Child Policy
by late 1970s pop = 1 bil - introed to manage & num of children = supervised by workplace fam coms
if want m than 1 child have to apply - long wait
1 got extra bens - free healthcare, edu priority & higher tax allowances - if violated have to repay allowances & fine
129
Effect of China's One Child Policy on Women
women forced to undergo sterilisation after 1 child
by 2007 only 36% pop = limited to 1
Jan 2016 policy = 2 2021 = 3 due to concerns about demograpic imbalances- ageing pop
130
Fertility Rates
| Effect of China's One Child Policy
prevented 400 mil births lowest fertility rates in world
4% m men = gender skew - when abol 30 mil men w/o prospective wives - fewer women of child bearing age further reduced birthrates & mar rates - restricted nuc fam struc
131
Demographic Imbalance
| Effect of China's One Child Policy
ageing pop - no children to sup - if child died- underbal working pop to sup through state services
132
Increased Number of Undocumented Children
| Effect of China's One Child Policy
no rights w/in soc - can't leave/access edu
133
Women
| Effect of China's One Child Policy
forced abortions & sterilisations
134
Communist Romania
to inc pop & future lab force in 1980s soc pols banned contra & restricted abortion, = fertility clinics & m stringent div laws
compul monthly exams by state Drs - failed pregs investigated for abortion
dec mar age to 15 & unmarked couples paid 5% extra income tax - sup nuc fam
135
Nazi Family Policy
low birth rate 1933 - needed w's & s's - emph nuc fam & trad GRs
Law for Encour of Mar (1933) = £ incens - mar couples could get loans & repayments dec 25% for each child
rewards for lots of children - mothers cross
Law for prevention of unemployment = £ incens for women to stay at home
136
Functionalist Perspective on Social Policy
state acts in interest of soc pols = for good of all
help fams to perform roles w/in fam m effectively to make life better for all mems - MofP view
= nec to address & fix probs related to fam dsyfunc - DV/ inc div - fav ones which reinforce nuc fam as superior
137
Ronald Fletcher
health edu & housing pols have created welfare state - helps fam perform funcs m effect - NHS allows to care for sick mems better
138
Early Functionalist Perspective on Social Policy
Durkheim etc believe soc pol = cure for soc probs & used to manage soc change & maintain soc cohesion
139
Jaques Donzelot (1977)
conflict pov - soc pol = state control & power
uses Foucault's surveillance
applies to fam - pros surveil & police fam - soc w's, Drs & health visitors use knowledge to control & change fams
not targeted at all soc classes equally - poor targeted for improvement = prob fams - cause of crime & anti soc behav
140
Foucault's Surveillance
soc pol used through observing & monitoring - power diffused thro soc in all relas & pros in state services
141
Condry (2007)
state seeks to control & regulate fam life imposing compulsory parenting orders through courts
142
Donzelot & March of Progress
rejects soc pol = oppressing certain fam types
by focussing on micro level of how caring pros = agents of soc control through sur of fams shows NBance of pros knowledge as form of power & control
143
Criticisms of Functionalist View of Social Policy
fems & M's reject argue pols do not ben all mems of fam / soc as whole
assumes MofP & life improvement for fams w/ each pol - NR - those encour LP fams X MofP
144
New Right & Social Policy
fav convention nuc fam w/ trad gen roles - assumes = ideal to sup self reliance & caring for children esp soc
soc pols have underminded nuclear fam - inc div cohab & same sex relas
145
Abortion Act (1967)
takes away reproductive role & encourage sexual instability & casual relas
146
Divorce Reform Act (1969)
encours LP fams & fam diversity undermines mar 4ever idea
147
Decrim of Homosexuality (1967)
1st indication fams not built on hetero nuc fams = acceptable - fam diversity
148
Charles Murray (1984)
| Social Policy
crit state welfare - council housing for unmarried teenage mums - bens to LP fams - undermines nuclear fam - encours dsyfunc fam strucs
NR advises state X to interfere & make fams reliant on system - cuts in welfare & bens & structer eligibility to discour preg X of mar & remove depen cul
want pols to encour nuc fam - tax breaks
149
Marxist Criticisms of New Right Social Policy Stance
will only make poor poorer - not help for social mobility - reinforces cap
150
Feminist Criticisms of New Right Social Policy Stance
child ben favs women working part time - not enough funding for full hours of childcare - edu pols - holidays also encour part time work
assume elderly cared for by women stereo role - limits abil work & inc depen on men
151
Hilary Land (1978)
soc pols = SFP that try to:
1. return to patri nuc fams by perpet female subord - state pols - tax incentives make fam diversity harder
2. reinforce trad GRs
3. double burden - care & fin contrib
152
Leonard (1978)
pols like maternity leave appear to sup women - reinforce patri NFs - m fin depen on men & unequal division of labour - suggest women = carers
153
Liberal Feminists & Social Policy
MofP pol can bring about gender equality - help escape DV & bens tackle child pov
154
Radical Feminists & Social Policy
changes X suff bc inequality so entrenched in society- serves to reninforce patri strucs
despite equal pay act still sexism - only 23% exec pos, 29% senior management roles & median pay gap = 15%
view overly gen mat leave comp to pat leave as reinforcing role of women as carers - triple shift
155
Social Policies Supporting Gender Equality
Abortion Act
Equal Pay Act
Divorce Reform Act
156
# ```
Social Policies Against Gender Equality
conservative MPs pushing for change in abortion to 22 X 24 weeks - limits body control
research suggests by 2020 86% of gov spending cuts effect women - dv funding, child benefit
157
General Evaluation of New Right & Social Policy
not all soc pols undermine NF - some sup - tax & welfare pols for hetero couples - inher tax
158
Drew (1995)
gender regimes to describe how soc pols in dif countries can either encour/ discourage gender equality
country's pol on tax, childcare, welfare services, & equal ops all effect whether women can work full time / forgo to care - validity of fem argument depends on soc
159
Familistic Gender Regimes
reinforce trad GRs w/ unequal division of lab - Greece v little state welfare - women expected to care
160
Individualistic Gender Regimes
promotes gender equality - Sweden & UK
161
Gender Regimes & UK
= indu = crit of fem view of soc pol
MofP = limited pols promo gender equality rely on state funding - women take burden of cuts since 2008 recession eg child maintenance payments enforce dads to provide fin care - no enforcement to fulfill caring role - argument = regression - women bearing burden of caring for fam mems again
162
Family Diversity
funcs & NR = modernist see mod soc as fairly fixed clear cut & predictable struc
func views nuc fam as dom NR argues should be but = undermined by less conven strucs due to pol change
163
Functionalists on Family Diversity
alt types = dysfunc & abnormal - unable to perform funcs - primary soc bc 1 gender parent = missing - can't teach instru & express roles
164
New Right & Family Diversity
nuc fam undermined by fam diversity = cause of many soc probs
fam = cornerstone of soc - refuge & harmony - unstable fams = ineffective prim soc - men X value hw & women X dom - inc delinq
165
Evaluation of New Right & Family Diversity
feminists - both views pol justis to suppress women into trad GRs so find depen on husband
Oakley - NR argue GRs = bio = soc construc - cross cul studies - m & w = vareity of roles - nayar tribe = neg reaction to gender equality
no evidence lp fams rasie delinq & that cohab = less commitment
166
Child Commisioners Report (2022)
NR - biggest issue = dec of nuc fam - m common worries = fin - inc CofL & childcare concerns for those w/ young children
167
Evidence for Family Diversity
stats sup inc in reconstit fam by cohab, 1st mar / remar - can = cause of tension - unclear roles of step parents - but = wider sup
gay & lesbian parents children = no dif
1970 - 79% children = nuc fam whole childhood = 56% 2018
since early 1970s Lp fams inc 8% - 26%
