Sociology as social policy Flashcards
(8 cards)
Social democratic research - Townsend & The Black Report
E - The Black report grounded in Townsend’s research on identifying causes of poverty through surveys for over 2000 households, used sociological data to show how health in the qualities persisted, despite the creation of the welfare state.
E - This challenged the dominant medical, an individualistic explanations of ill health by highlighting how poverty, pool housing, and unemployment were key structure causes. This report believed the top priority of the government is to tackle, poverty, and low income.
E - Bauman (1987) argued sociology wants had a legislator role shaping policy and guided social reform. But today, sociologists, amor interpreters they can point out problems, but that often ignored by those in power.
Left Realist research - Lea & Young
E - Lea & Young argue crime is a result of relative dep, marginalisation and subcultures - used results of local victim surveys to put forward practical solutions e.g. state intervention & community.
Should be related to social policy - Social democratic research
E - Townsend identified the extent and causes of poverty in UK based on surveys of over 2000 households - developed the concept of relative deprivation as well as The Black Report - identified range of cultural and structural causes of inequalities and health - top priority of government should be to tackle poverty.
E - This challenges the governments, narrow definition of poverty and influence policies that aim to improve social inclusion, e.g. increased, welfare benefit and support for low income families.
E - The government not only ruled out the black reports recommendations on the ground of cost, but restricted the publication of what was seem to be a political embarrassing report.
Should be related to social policy - Left Realism
E - Lea and young have used results from victim surveys to highlight the lived experiences of crime, especially among WC and ethnic minority groups, and suggested reforms like strong partnership between police and communities, fewer custodial sentences and greater use of community service - ASBOS, tagging. School - operation headstart.
E - These policies reflect how sociological research has direct insurance on policy, as evidence gathered by Lea & Young shaped responses to crime - moved beyond OS and offered solutions that came to reduce reoffending and improve public confidence in police.
E - Research like this only influences policy when it matches what the government already believe, If government disagrees with ideas, they are less likely to use them
Should not be related to sexual policy - New Right
E - Murray maintains that providing generous welfare as a social policy solution for poverty, makes the problem worse due to it, creating a dangerous under class who become dependent on welfare state.
E - Using sociology to shape social policy is dangerous as it encourages behaviors that threaten moral alter and social cohesion. However, they believe the government should intervene when it suits her beliefs, e.g., social policy determination to prop up, traditional nuclear family legislation, restricting gypsies rights.
E - This assumes there is one set of values, reflecting value, laid in sociology, where ideological, preferences, shape what is seen as a problem. Feminists may argue, Murray overlooks role of patriarchal, norms in defining what is seen as a broken family.
Should not be related to social policy - Marxists
E - Westergaard & Resler argue in equality is in the structure of capitalism on state policies - barely manage the symptoms of inequalities rather than challenging the system itself - believe welfare buyS off WC I’m prevents them from realizing that true class interests.
E - The social problems faced by WC can only be overcome from a proletarian revolution who’s and aim would be to create a communist society - policy gives illusion of equality while preserving class exploitation.
E - Gramsci argues the state has a relative autonomy meaning it can sometimes be influenced by social critique and support policies that benefit the WC weakening the claim that all social policy simply reinforce capitalism.
What is a social policy?
- Proposed plan or action made by government that impacts society.
What is a social problem?
Worsley (1977) - some piece of behavior that causes public friction or private misery and calls for collective action to solve it.
