social policy

Question 1

what is social policy?

Answer 1

social policy refers to the plans and actions of state agencies such as health and social services, the welfare benefits system and schools and other bodies.

Question 2

policies are usually based on…

Answer 2

laws introduced by governments that provide the framework within which these agencies will operate. for example, laws lay down who is entitled to each specific welfare benefit.

Question 3

how do social policies affect families?

Answer 3

some are aimed at families such as laws governing marriage and divorce, abortion or contraception, child protection, adoption and so on.

Question 4

1969 divorce act

Answer 4

-rapid increase in divorce
-subsequent increase in single person, single parent and step family households
-support from liberal and radical feminists
- criticisms from functionalism and the new right

Question 5

1975 employment act

Answer 5

-increase in maternity pay should equate to an increase in children
-larger family sizes
-support from liberal feminism
-criticisms from radical feminism (dual burden, triple shift) and the new right as it undermines traditional gender roles

Question 6

1974 child benefits act

Answer 6

-increase in family size
-increase in lone parent families
-support from liberal and radical feminism
-criticisms from functionalism and the new right

Question 7

1998 change to child benefits

Answer 7

• = abolition of 50p extra lone parents
  -reduction in the number of lone parent families
  -support from the new right
  -criticisms from new labour and radical feminism

Question 8

2005 adoption act

Answer 8

-increase in same sex families
- support from radical feminism and labour
-criticisms from the new right

Question 9

2004 civil partnership act

Answer 9

• increase in legally recognised same sex partnerships
  more openly visible same-sex relationships
  -support from radical feminism and new labour
  -criticisms from the new right

Question 10

policies which are not directly aimed and families but are likely to have an affect on them

Answer 10

childcare, education, housing and crime

Question 11

many policies that impact upon families make changes to what?

Answer 11

the legalisation on taxation and benefits such as child tax credits.

Question 12

2013 child benefit means tested> £60k

Answer 12

-no child benefit for those with over £60k
-possible reduction in larger families
-support from the new labour (more equality)
- criticisms from Marxism (think £60k is to high)

Question 13

2013 paternity act

Answer 13

-greater equality between men and women
- increase in the number of men being stay at home parents
- support fro liberal feminism and new labour
- criticisms from the new right (undermines traditional gender roles)

Question 14

2015 shared parental leave

Answer 14

• greater equality between men and women
• increase in the number of men being stay at home parents
  -support from liberal feminism and new labour
  -criticisms from new right (undermines traditional gender roles)

Question 15

2017 2 child tax credit policy

Answer 15

-= no extra benefit after 2nd child
-decrease in larger families
- support from the new right
-criticisms from new labour and radical feminism

Question 16

2022 marriage age raised from 16 to 18

Answer 16

• reduction in forced teenage marriage
  -support from donzelot? (state interference)
• criticisms, none?

Question 17

2024 15 hours of free childcare for children from 9 months

Answer 17

-should mean increase in gender equality as women are the main child carers
- might increase family size
-support from the new right, Donzelot (more surveillance of the more)
-criticisms from liberal and probably radical feminism as well as new labour

Question 18

functionalist view of social policy and the family

Answer 18

functionalists see policies as helping families to perform their functions more effectively and making life better from their members