Family and Households - Social Policy Flashcards
(36 cards)
What was China’s ‘One Child Policy’?
Due to overpopulation, they made it so that families could only have one child
What problems did China’s ‘One Child Policy’ cause?
- Women were fitted with IUDs after birth
- Forced sterilisation
- Uneven enforcement of the rule
- Sex-selective abortion
- Abandonment of children
- Overcrowded orphanages
How was Romanian Policy in the 1980s used to address a societal issue?
- Polices put in place to increase the birth rate
- Restricted contraception and abortions
- Set up fertility treatment centres
- Divorce was made more difficult
- Legal age of marriage lowered
- Increased tax for childless couples
UK social policy on Tax Credits
- More tax credits = less tax to pay
- Families with children got more tax credits
UK social policy on Child Benefits
- Weekly payment to help with the cost of raising children
- £26.05 for the first child, £17.25 for additional children
- Those on higher incomes pay it back through tax
- Available for children under 16 or under 20 if still in education
UK social policy on Maternity Leave
- Up to 52 weeks
- 2 weeks must be taken off after the baby’s birth
- Employment rights are protected
- Can claim maternity allowance from the government or Statutory Maternity Pay for up to 39 weeks
UK social policy on Marriage Tax Allowance
- Helps married couples and civil partnerships save money on taxes
- Personal allowance can be transferred, leading to less tax being paid
- One person must be a non-tax payer
UK social policy on the Equality Act 2010
- Protects against unfair discrimination
- Promotes gender equality in the workplace
- Supports diverse family types
UK social policy on Divorce Laws
- No need for a guilty party
- Joint or solo applications
- Minimum timeframe of 20 weeks
UK social policy on Same-Sex Relationships
- Same-sex marriage legalised in July 2013
- Civil partnerships grants the same rights and legal protections
- Civil partnerships can be ended through dissolution
UK social policy on the Children’s Act 1989
- Focuses on the welfare and rights of children
- Priorities children’s safety and wellbeing
- Defines the legal rights and duties of parents/guardians
- Children seen as individuals rather than parental property
UK social policy on Childcare Provision
- EYFS sets standards for learning, development, and care
- Childcare Act 2006 placed duty on local authorities to secure sufficient childcare for working parents
- 15 hours free childcare per week for all 3-4 year olds
How do Functionalists see compulsory education as benefiting the family?
- It provides a place for children to attend while the parents work, keeping the economy moving
- It ensures that children are socialised into societal norms and gain specialist skills
Why do Marxists criticise the March of Progress view?
March of Progress argues that things are improving for society, whereas Marxists argue that things are not improving for the poorest in society with cuts in government funding to family benefits
What does Donzelot argue about social policy?
- It is not for the benefit of the family
- It is used by the powerful to govern the actions of individuals within society
How do social actors (such as doctors and social workers) act under guidance from the government according to Donzelot?
- They alert ‘problem families’ to the authorities
- The poorest in society are the focus of this intervention
- Aims to change behaviours
What does Condry (2007) argue about social policy?
Parenting Orders used by the courts are evidence of the state telling families how they should raise their children, usually targeted at working-class families
How do The New Right view non-nuclear families?
- Unfavourable as they are often dependent on others
- Cohabitating couples having similar rights to married couples sends out a signal that the state no longer sees marriage as special
How do The New Right view divorce laws?
They undermine the idea of marriage being a lifelong commitment
How do The New Right view tax laws?
They discriminate against conventional families with a sole breadwinner
What did Charles Murray (New Right) argue about the benefit system?
- It creates a dependency culture in which individuals will accept ‘hand-outs’ and become lazy
- It means that fathers don’t need to maintain bonds with their children as they state will provide benefits for them, increasing the amount of lone-parent families
What problems did Charles Murray (New Right) suggest welfare dependency creates?
- Council housing being provided for unmarried teenage mothers encourages young girls to become pregnant
- Lone-parent families lead to boys growing up without a male role model
What is The New Right’s solution?
- Changing policy to make cuts in welfare spending and make less people eligible for benefits
- Reduce taxes
- Creating policies to support the traditional nuclear family
Why do Abbott and Wallace criticise The New Right?
Cutting welfare would merely create more poor families and further increase their inability to get out of poverty
