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sociology - FAMILY > perspectives on family and social policy > Flashcards

perspectives on family and social policy Flashcards

1
Q

what is social policy?

A

plans/actions made by the government which aim to change, improve or regulate behaviour and/or social conditions
FOR EXAMPLE:
- family
- poverty
- unemployment
- education

policies are usually based on laws introduced by governments so may change depending on the political party in power

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2
Q

how do social policies have an impact on the family?

A

social policies regulate the family, for example:
- marriage/divorce laws
- abortion/contraception laws
- child protection laws
- adoption laws

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3
Q

what is the functionalist view of social policies?

A

functionalists say that the state make policies that are:
- in the interests of society
- serve a positive function
- help families perform their functions effectively
- make life better for society

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4
Q

what does RONALD FLETCHER (functionalist - 1966) say about policies?

A

argues that health, education and housing policies have led to the development of a welfare system that supports the family

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5
Q

what does MICHAEL FOUCAULT (marxist) say about social policies?

A
  • says the state controls the family and keeps it under constant surveillance through policies and laws
  • these policies empower certain agencies and professionals such as doctors and social workers
  • these are ‘experts’ who use their ‘expert knowledge’ to control and change families
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6
Q

what does JACQUES DONZELOT (marxist) say about social policies?

A

like FAUCAULT, DONZELOT believes the state are policing the family through the following:

  • doctors, social workers and health visitors observe and monitor families
  • poor families are often targeted by professionals as ‘needing improvement’
  • the state can control/regulate family life by imposing parenting orders through the courts
  • parents of young offenders, truants or badly behaved children may be forced to attend parenting classes to learn the ‘correct’ way to bring up children
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7
Q

the new right and policies

A

don’t like policies that support family diversity, such as:
- civil partnerships
- adoption rights for gay and cohabiting couples
- cohabitation, same sex, lone parent families

critical of policies that:
- promote equal opportunities to women in work
- make divorce easier
- promote sex education in schools/free contraception for teenagers

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8
Q

examples of new right views (JOHN REDWOOD - conservative MP)

A

conservative MP JOHN REDWOOD stated in 1993: ‘the natural state should be the two adult family caring for their children’ - and for him this means a male and a female adult

  • the new right are linked to the conservative party
  • strongly support the conventional nuclear family with traditional gender roles
  • they believe parents should be married
  • believe mothers should stay home and not work
  • believe families should not receive benefits
  • dislike feminism
  • don’t believe in family diversity as they believe it creates instability and social problems
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9
Q

the new right attitude on the state:

A
  • the state should not interfere with family life as much as it does as families should be self-sufficient
  • the state has undermined people’s ability to stand on their own two feet by providing welfare benefits
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10
Q

CHARLES MURRAY (new right sociologist 1984)

A
  • MURRAY is critical of the welfare state
  • he says the rise in single parents is caused by an over-generous welfare state
  • he believes the welfare state threatened the two essential functions of the family:

CORRECT SOCIALISATION OF CHILDREN - single parents can’t discipline their sons effectively who lack a male role model/authority figure

MAINTAINING A GOOD WORK ETHIC AMONG MEN - young men who see the state will provide won’t go get jobs or take responsibility for their children

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11
Q

the new rights solution:

A
  • cut welfare taxes
  • stop council housing for unmarried teenage mothers
  • give tax breaks to married couples
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12
Q

criticisms of new right policies:

A
  • their policies would justify gender inequality and patriarchy
  • cutting benefits would increase poverty for poorer families
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13
Q

summary - functionalism vs the new right

A

functionalists say that state policies help the family to function

however…

the new right think too much intervention leads to families not being able to function properly

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14
Q

conservative government (1979 - 97) policies on the family

A

during the 80s and 90s, conservative government policies were aimed at strengthening nuclear families and reducing welfare benefits

  • supported ‘back to basics’ campaign which supported a return to traditional family values
  • ban on promotion of homosexuality
  • set up the child support agency to enforce maintenance payments
  • gave illegitimate children the same rights as children born to married parents
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15
Q

new labour government (97-2010) policies on the family

A

held different views to the new right/conservative in these areas…

FAMILY DIVERSITY
- allowed gay/cohabiting couples the right to adopt
- civil partnership act (2004) recognised gay/lesbian couples as a legal family form

WORKING MOTHERS/DUAL INCOME FAMILIES
- increased free childcare/nursery education
- introduced flexible working hours for parents
- extended maternity leave

STATE INTERVENTION/WELFARE
- introduced policies aimed at getting all children out of poverty
- introduced tax credits
- raised minimum wage

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16
Q

coalition government (2010-2015)

what two groups were the conservatives separated into?

A

MODERNISTS - accepting families who are more diverse

TRADITIONALISTS - favour the new right and reject diversity

17
Q

coalition government (2010 - 2015)

what policies did the coalition government put in place?

A
  • in 2010 offered tax incentives for married couples (PRO new right)
  • in 2014 introduced gay marriage (ANTI new right)
  • cut welfare spending (PRO new right views to encourage less reliance on the welfare state)
18
Q

coalition government (2010 - 2015)

what was the ‘family test’

A

in 2014, david cameron (conservative PM) announced that all new government domestic policies would have to pass a ‘family test’ to assess their impact on the family

19
Q

what are feminist views on social policy?

A

argue policies reinforce patriarchal society by supporting patriarchal nuclear families:

  • tax benefit policies assume males are the main wage earner in the family
  • childcare payments are not sufficient to enable both parents to work full time
  • school holidays make it hard for mothers to work full time
  • care for sick and elderly - policies assume the family will provide care (e.g. middle aged women)
20
Q

DIANE LEONARD (1978) feminist perspective on social policies

A

says where social policies appear to support women, they reinforce patriarchal power and act as social control over women.

FOR EXAMPLE:
- custody is usually given to women
- paternity leave is very short
- child benefit is usually paid to women

policies reinforce the idea of women as the ‘natural carer’ and that children are the responsibility of the women

21
Q

marxist views on social policy

A
  • all social institutions support capitalism
  • social policies support the bourgeoise and capitalism
  • state pensions are very low - pensioners are economically inactive
  • healthcare and welfare are given as a ‘smoke screen’ to make capitalism look more humane
  • healthcare keeps the proletariat in good working order
  • welfare and healthcare are subject to cuts in financial recessions
22
Q

what are policies aimed at promoting the ‘ideal family’?

A
  • tax breaks for married couples - reinforces family unit rather than individualism
  • maternity leave / child benefit policies - gender division of labour and assumes men are the breadwinner while mother is carer and housewife
23
Q

functionalists on social policies recap

A

think social policies assist families in carrying out their functions more effectively

24
Q

the new right on social policies recap

A
  • like policies that support traditional families
  • see increasing divorce rates as threatening to the family and society
  • like policies that encourage self-reliance rather than the state
  • don’t like the welfare state

sociology - FAMILY (14 decks)

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