Social Policy Flashcards
(8 cards)
1
Q
Worsley
A
- social problems; some piece of behaviour that causes public friction and/ or private misery and calls for collective action to solve it eg poverty, crime
- sociological problems; any pattern of relationships that calls for explanation eg gender differences, ethnicity
2
Q
Influence of sociology on policy
A
- electoral popularity- will it be popular with voters?
- ideological and policy preferences of government- researcher’s value stance similar to governments make more chance
- interest groups- pressure groups that seek to influence policies in their own interests
- globalisation- not made by nation states in isolation
- critical sociology- critical of state/ powerful groups at be too radical/ extreme
- cost- may not have sufficient funds to implement
- funding sources- may tone findings down to fit in with paymasters’ wishes
3
Q
Functionalism/ Positivism
A
- see sociology as a science a science so aim to use quantitative research to effectively guide the state in the creation of policy
- believe state acts in interest of society as a whole (macro) so sociologists’ rise should be to provide factual, objective information and identifying causal relationships for the good of society
- functionalists favour piecemeal social engineering as social policy performs key functions for society- government part of organic analogy —> policies have allowed for structural differentiation (parsons) with specific functions
4
Q
Social democratic perspective
A
- favours redistribution of wealth for a fairer society- wish to eradicate vast inequalities that capitalism can create
- associated with Labour Party while being generally left wing, helped to found Welfare State - 1942 beveridge report which identified inequalities in society which led to free health services, social security and a mass education programme
5
Q
Marxism
A
- believe ruling class make policies that benefit themselves and capitalism, providing an ideological legitimisation of the capitalist economy eg the welfare state/ health and safety laws which makes capitalisms seem fair (Pearce) but maintain labour force for further exploitation
- policies are means of preventing revolution and work ideologically (Althusser), research reflecting class inequality are ignored eg Black Report - so policies dont go far enough as Marxists argue only solution to social problems is revolutionary and communism
6
Q
Feminism
A
- Liberal: policies are making society more equal by changing law and introducing anti-incrimination reforms eg Equal Pay act, childcare funding
- Radical: advocate separations, to free themselves of patriarchy and so policies which offer civil partnerships and fertility treatment for same sex couples
- policies are often based on sexist stereotypes eg nuclear families (maternity/ paternity leave, tax and benefits) put on women to be primary carer
- Paetcher- researched subject choices and how sport is seen as male domain
- Colley- research computer science seen as a masculine interest- introduced GIST and WISE
7
Q
New Right/ Right Realism
A
- believe state should have minimal involvement in society and limit welfare as this undermines peoples’ sense of responsibility
- advocate a sense of individualism, where individuals and their families take responsibility for themselves eg private schooling, private healthcare- Murray (perverse incentives/ dependency culture)
- New right thinking has influences conservative governments in the past- Tax breaks for married couples, Clause 28, zero tolerance policy, situational crime prevention, target hardening
8
Q
Left Realism
A
- argue policy is key solution to problem of crime —> governments should help the poor, as inequality is the cause of social problems
- Lea and Young; argue through practical solutions the government could help reduce criminality amongst the poor by overcoming inequality
- support policies such as Sure Start, Perry Pre- school project which implement support for poorer families helping to overcome marginalisation and relative deprivation
