Families- social policy Flashcards
What is social policy?
-parliamentary laws that regulate behaviour of individuals and public institution - influence trends in family trends
Extreme social policies - China’s one child policy
-discourages people from having more than one child - pre 2015
-couples who had more than one child had to:
-repay the allowances, pay a fine and face pressure for women to undergo sterilisation after first child
-couples who did as they are told received extra benefits like free child healthcare, higher tax allowances and priority in housing and education for child
Extreme social policies - post revolutionary Russia
1980’s - wanted to increase birth rate
-restricted contraception and abortion
-made divorce difficult
-legal age of marriage lowered to 15
-unmarried adults and childless couples pay extra 5% income tax
How does social policy differ in democratic societies in comparison to countries with extreme social policy?
-policies created by gov do not get involved in the private sphere of the family except in instances of child abuse or domestic violence
Perspectives on social policy - functionalism
-examples?
-eval?
-society is built on harmony and consensus (shared values)
-gov acts in the interests of all in society- policies are there for the good of all
-policy helps families perform functions better e.g:
-socialisation of children - compulsory schooling until 18
-looking after ill family members - free healthcare for all
-meeting members economic needs - income tax brackets raised so poorest pay less
-criticism: women don’t equally benefit from social policies
Perspectives on social policy - Donzelot
-connect to marxism
-believes family policy is a means through which working class adults/families are put under surveillance from the state where they monitor and observe behaviour
-this is due to poor families seen as a ‘problem’ and the cause of anti-social behaviour
-he argues that doctors/social workers use their knowledge to control and change families
-relates to marxist argument - professionals act to reinforce capitalist ideology that the working class are to blame for their position in society and need state intervention to raise families effectively
Perspectives on social policy - The New Right
-sociologist?
-examples?
-eval?
-argue that families should be self reliant - believe social policy undermines the nuclear family
-divorce laws made easier means there is less commitment for partners and creates more lone parent households/less nuclear families
-intro of same sex marriage shows that the gov no longer sees heterosexual marriage as superior
-tax laws mean that male breadwinner families pay more in tax than dual earners
-eval: feminists say that its an attempt to justify a return to the traditional patriarchal family
What are perverse incentives and how do they support the New Right belief on social policy?
-examples?
-sociologist
-eval?
-they are policies that reward irresponsible and anti-social behaviour, and create a dependency culture where generations are socialised into expectations that the state will provide them with welfare benefits
-e.g: council housing for unmarried, teenage mothers which encourages them to become pregnant
-women know they will receive benefits if they split with partner so are likely to - means boys grow up without a role model or authoritative figure
-father more likely to abandon responsibilities if he knows the state will look up after the mother and baby
-sociologist is Murray
-eval: Abbott and Wallace argue that cutting benefits would simply drive many poor families into greater poverty and make them more self reliant.
What is the New Right’s solution to social policy?
-cuts in benefits = reduced taxation
-tighter eligibility criteria for benefits = better incentive to work
-denying housing to unmarried teens = reduces incentive to get pregnant
How did the 1979-97 conservative government reflect a New Right view on social policy?
-banned promotion of homosexuality in schools
-defined divorce as a social problem- emphasised the continued responsibility of parents after divorce
-enforced maintenance payments by absent parents
-married men paid less tax- more likely to get married and stay married
-Thatcherism
How did the 1997-2010 New Labour government reflect a progressive view on social policy?
-this gov was influenced by New Right however were much more progressive, giving support to alternate family types
-gave longer maternity leave - meant it became easier for both partners to work whilst looking after baby- increased dual earner couples
-New Right also see this as good though as it suggested that it should be women looking after children
-dual earner couples could claim tax relief on childcare costs
-favoured wealth redistribution through taxation and benefits
3 ways New Labour gov put children first
-raising school standards for all
-promoting the well being, safety, protection and care of all young people
-measures to tackle health problems such as obesity and promoting youth sport
Since 2010, what have been the 2 different types of conservatives?
-modernists - recognise families are now more diverse and are willing to reflect that in their policies
-traditionalists - favour New Right view and think diversity is morally wrong
What was the 2010-15 coalition government and what policies did they introduce which opposes the New Right?
-government had shared power between conservatives and lib dems
-legalised gay marriage
-shared parental leave
Perspective on social policy - feminism
-examples
-eval
-argue that polices are still constructed on the belief that women and children are dependent on a male breadwinner
-argue that policies help maintain patriarchal nuclear family -eg:
-women’s maternity leave being longer than mens paternity leave - assumes women will look after children
-childcare policies - gov pays for some childcare but not enough to permit both parents to work full time unless they can afford extra childcare - women are restricted from working and put them in economic dependence
-child benefit and custody being usually given to mother-assumes child welfare is mothers responsibility
-eval: some policies do benefit women: sex discrimination laws, equal rights on divorce, rape within marriage criminalised
