Social Policy

Question 1

What is meant by a ‘dependency culture’?

Answer 1

A culture where individuals rely on the state for support instead of being self-reliant.

Question 2

What are the two essential functions that the family fulfills for society according to the New Right?

Answer 2

• The successful socialization of the young
• The maintenance of the work ethic among men

Question 3

What is the New Right’s solution to the dependency culture?

Answer 3

Cutting welfare spending and tightening eligibility for benefits.

Question 4

What advantage do the New Right argue would come from cutting welfare benefits?

Answer 4

It would reduce taxes and incentivize fathers to work and provide for their families.

Question 5

True or False: The New Right supports policies that favor cohabiting couples over married couples.

Answer 5

False

Question 6

What do the New Right advocate regarding absent fathers?

Answer 6

Making absent fathers financially responsible for their children.

Question 7

How do functionalists view state welfare policies in relation to families?

Answer 7

They believe state welfare policies can benefit the family and help meet its members’ needs.

Question 8

According to the New Right, what is the effect of state interference in families?

Answer 8

It undermines family life.

Question 9

What do feminists argue about the New Right’s view on the family?

Answer 9

It justifies a return to the traditional patriarchal nuclear family.

Question 10

What assumption do critics say the New Right makes about the patriarchal nuclear family?

Answer 10

That it is ‘natural’ rather than socially constructed.

Question 11

According to Pam Abbott and Claire Wallace, what would cutting benefits do to poor families?

Answer 11

Drive them into even greater poverty and reduce their self-reliance.

Question 12

What is social policy?

Answer 12

Plans and actions of state agencies affecting families, such as health and social services.

Question 13

What are some examples of laws that directly affect families?

Answer 13

• Marriage and divorce laws
• Abortion and contraception laws
• Child protection laws
• Adoption laws

Question 14

How does compulsory education affect family life?

Answer 14

It allows parents to work while schools provide a free ‘childminding’ service.

Question 15

What is China’s one-child policy?

Answer 15

A government policy discouraging couples from having more than one child.

Question 16

What benefits do couples receive for complying with China’s one-child policy?

Answer 16

• Free child healthcare
• Higher tax allowances
• Priority in education and housing

Question 17

What extreme measures did Communist Romania take regarding family policy?

Answer 17

• Restricted contraception and abortion
• Set up infertility treatment centers
• Made divorce more difficult
• Lowered the legal age of marriage to 15
• Imposed extra tax on unmarried and childless couples

Question 18

What was the aim of Nazi family policy in Germany?

Answer 18

To encourage the breeding of a ‘master race’ and confine women to domestic roles.

Question 19

What did the Nazi regime do to disabled individuals regarding family policy?

Answer 19

Compulsorily sterilized 375,000 disabled people deemed unfit to breed.

Question 20

How do sociologists view government intervention in families in democratic societies?

Answer 20

They argue that state social policies significantly shape family life.

Question 22

What is the primary responsibility of the mother according to social policy?

Answer 22

The benefit is normally paid to the mother, giving her a source of income.

Question 23

How do social policies affect women’s roles in the family?

Answer 23

They assume that the child’s care is primarily the mother’s responsibility.

Question 24

What is a key criticism of functionalism regarding social policies?

Answer 24

It assumes that all members of the family benefit equally from social policies.

Question 25

Who argues that social policies often benefit men at the expense of women?

Answer 25

Feminists.

Question 26

What does the New Right advocate for in terms of family structure?

Answer 26

The conventional or 'traditional' nuclear family based on a married, heterosexual couple.

Question 27

What do functionalists believe about the role of the state in social policies?

Answer 27

The state acts in the interests of society as a whole and its policies are for the good of all.

Question 28

Fill in the blank: The existence of the _______ means that families can better take care of sick members.

Answer 28

National Health Service

Question 29

According to the New Right, what are some social problems resulting from family diversity?

Answer 29

* Increases in divorce * Cohabitation * Same-sex partnerships * Lone parenthood

Question 30

What is Jacques Donzelot's view on state policies and families?

Answer 30

He sees policy as a form of state power and control over families.

Question 31

What concept by Michel Foucault does Donzelot apply to families?

Answer 31

Surveillance.

Question 32

True or False: Donzelot believes that social policy has created a better and freer society.

Answer 32

False.

Question 33

What term does Donzelot use to describe the control exerted over families by professionals?

Answer 33

Policing of families.

Question 34

What do New Right commentators like Charles Murray argue about welfare benefits?

Answer 34

They undermine the conventional nuclear family and encourage deviant family types.

Question 35

Fill in the blank: The New Right argues that welfare policies create a _______ culture.

Answer 35

dependency

Question 36

What is one proposed solution by the New Right to address issues with family structures?

Answer 36

Cuts in welfare spending and tighter restrictions on who is eligible for benefits.

Question 37

What do feminists criticize about the New Right's perspective on families?

Answer 37

It justifies a return to the traditional patriarchal nuclear family.

Question 38

According to the New Right, what is the effect of cutting welfare benefits?

Answer 38

It would give fathers more incentive to work and provide for their families.

Question 39

What is one criticism of functionalism regarding the view of social progress?

Answer 39

It assumes a 'march of progress' with social policies improving family life continuously.

Question 40

What does the New Right believe about state interference in families?

Answer 40

The less the state interferes, the better family life will be.

Question 41

Who does Donzelot argue are more likely to be seen as 'problem' families?

Answer 41

Poor families.

Question 42

What are some of the advantages the New Right believes would result from cutting welfare benefits?

Answer 42

* Reduced taxes * Increased self-reliance among families

Question 43

What do Marxists argue about the beneficiaries of social policies?

Answer 43

They generally operate in the interests of the capitalist class.

Question 44

What does the New Right claim about the impact of divorce laws?

Answer 44

They undermine the idea of marriage as a lifelong commitment.

Question 45

What is a potential consequence of generous welfare benefits according to the New Right?

Answer 45

They encourage young girls to become pregnant.

Question 46

What is the New Right's view on family policy?

Answer 46

The New Right is a conservative view of the family that first developed in the 1970s.

Question 47

How did Mrs. Thatcher's Conservative government reflect New Right views?

Answer 47

Banned the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities and defined divorce as a social problem.

Question 48

What agency was set up by the Conservatives to enforce maintenance payments?

Answer 48

Child Support Agency.

Question 49

What was a significant policy change introduced by the Conservatives that opposed New Right views?

Answer 49

Making divorce easier and giving 'illegitimate' children the same rights as those born to married parents.

Question 50

What was New Labour's view on the family?

Answer 50

The family is the bedrock of society, with a married, heterosexual couple as the best environment for raising children.

Question 51

What did New Labour policies include to support dual-earner families?

Answer 51

* Longer maternity leave * Three months' unpaid leave for both parents * Working Families Tax Credit * The New Deal for lone parents.

Question 52

How did New Labour's view differ from the New Right regarding women's roles?

Answer 52

New Labour recognized that women now go out to work, rejecting the idea of a single male earner.

Question 53

What significant policy did the Coalition government introduce that was opposed by New Right traditionalists?

Answer 53

Gay marriage.

Question 54

What conflict view do feminists hold regarding social institutions?

Answer 54

They see society as patriarchal, benefiting men at women's expense.

Question 55

What is a self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of family policies?

Answer 55

Policies based on assumptions about the 'normal' family reinforce that family type at the expense of others.

Question 56

What are some examples of policies that reinforce the patriarchal family?

Answer 56

* Tax and benefits policies that assume husbands are main wage-earners * Childcare policies that restrict mothers' ability to work full-time * Assumptions that families will provide care for the sick and elderly.

Question 57

What is the implication of maternity leave policies according to feminists?

Answer 57

They reinforce the assumption that care of infants is primarily the responsibility of mothers.

Question 58

What do feminists argue about the impact of social policies on family roles?

Answer 58

They help create and maintain patriarchal roles and relationships.

Question 59

What types of policies are seen as challenging the patriarchal family?

Answer 59

* Equal pay and sex discrimination laws * Rights for lesbians to marry * Benefits for lone parents * Refuges for women escaping domestic violence.

Question 60

What is the functionalist perspective on social policies?

Answer 60

They see social policies as helping families to function effectively and make life easier.

Question 61

What criticism do functionalists face regarding their view on social policies?

Answer 61

It assumes that all members benefit equally from social policies.

Question 62

Who is Jacques Donzelot and what is his view on family policies?

Answer 62

Donzelot analyzed the relationship between family policies and social control, differing from functionalist views.

Question 63

Fill in the blank: The New Right view emphasizes that families should be _______.

Answer 63

[conventional heterosexual nuclear families].