Social Policy and the Family Flashcards
(19 cards)
What are SOCIAL POLICIES?
Laws made by the government which aim to improve society or deal with a social issue.
Social policies can encompass various areas including education, health, and welfare.
What is Ronald Fletcher’s view on social policies?
Health, education and housing policies have led to the welfare state supporting the family in completing its functions.
Fletcher emphasizes the role of welfare in aiding family dynamics.
What do the New Right believe regarding social policies?
They believe social policies have a negative influence, promoting family diversity and the disintegration of society.
The New Right advocates for the conventional heterosexual nuclear family.
How do feminists view social policies?
They see policies as maintaining a patriarchal nuclear family with a male breadwinner and a female homemaker.
For example, childcare policies reflect this assumption.
What is the Marxist perspective on family policy?
They view it as a way for the ruling class to maintain capitalist control of society.
Marxists argue that family policies support capitalism.
What is one type of social policy?
Providing Material Support for the family.
This includes cash benefits through tax credits and child benefits.
What is another type of social policy?
Helping parents to balance working life and family life.
Examples include maternity pay and child protection laws.
What was the aim of Conservative Policies from 1980 to 1990s?
To strengthen the traditional nuclear family, emphasizing self-help and reliance.
These policies were influenced by the New Right.
Name two Conservative Policies from 1980 to 1990s.
Section 28 - banned the promotion of homosexuality - clear example of New Right ideology—supporting traditional nuclear family values and opposing non-heterosexual family structures.
Married man’s tax allowance - tax benefits to married couples, especially benefiting households with a single (typically male) breadwinner - It incentivised marriage over cohabitation
What was the aim of New Labour Policies from 1997 to 2010 and who proposed this idea?
Silva & Smart – Favoured Duel earning families but also emphases the heterosexual nuclear family and for parents to take responsibility for their children. Some support for alternative family types.
Name two New Labour Policies.
Civil Partnerships (2004) - legalised same-sex partnerships, giving them similar rights to married heterosexual couples - Reflects greater family diversity and state support for non-traditional families — linked to late modernity/postmodernism.
Longer Maternity Leave - Supported working mothers by extending paid leave to 9 months - Gave women time to care for newborns without losing income or jobs, helping them stay in the labour market, encouraging dual earner families.
What is the aim of Coalition Policies from 2010 onwards?
Inconsistent policies on the family due to conflict between modernists and traditionalists.
This reflects differing views within the political landscape.
Name the Coalition Policies.
Equal Marriage Act - Homosexual and heterosexual marriage have same rights
Troubled Famillies programme - Targeted families with multiple social problems - This reflected a New Right/traditionalist view blaming family breakdown and poor parenting for social issues, promoting the nuclear family as a solution.
What was the Beveridge Report 1942
The Beveridge Report proposed a universal welfare state to tackle poverty and inequality, marking a key shift to state responsibility for welfare.
It influenced policies like the NHS (1948) and social security.
Supports functionalist and social democratic views; critiqued by the New Right for encouraging dependency.
What impact did the Beverage Report 1942 have on family
This led to the removal of some of the functions of the family to the welfare state.
What was the Divorce Reform Act 1969
Made Divorce easier to obtain. Allowed Women to file for divorce from her husband without having to prove, adultery, abuse or abandonment.
How did the Divorce Reform Act 1969 impact family
Increase in family diversity, especially single parent families and reconstituted families. Increased women’s independence.
What was the Legalisation of Contraceptive Pill 1967
Made it legal for women who were unmarried to obtain the contraceptive pill
How did the Legalisation of Contraceptive Pill 1967 impact family
Women had control over their bodies and how many children they had, this led to a decline in the birth rate
