Theories - Social policy Flashcards
Marxism on social policy
Social policy is a way of upholding capitalism and the interests of the bourgeiosie as any social policy implemented is done by the state which is a part of this ruling class, meaning it will all interest capitalism
How policies affect society - masking capitalism (marxism)
Social policies act as dominant ideology and mask capitalism - inforce policies that make it look like they benefit the proletariat, e.g welfare state/NHS when Marxists believe they want to maintain the health and welfare in order to make them ready for work again (false class consciousness) prevents revolution
Marxist view on social policy eval
Criticsed by social democratic sociologists - rejects the fact that research and social policies can bring progressive policies in capitalist system e.g impacts on poverty
Functionalist/ positivist view on social policy
Durkeheim- sociology is a science and social problems could be discovered and scientifical solutions based to them. Sociologists can provide the state with objective research based on social facts to apply policies and improve society - make it more progressive
How policies improve society - functionalists
education policies - meritocratic education system, abolish inherited wealth to make a fairer society and improve social cohesion
- Housing & family policies to help families perform functions effectively
Eval of functionalism view on policies
Criticised by marxists for ignoring wider societal issues e.g educational policies to improve oppurtunities of children in different social classes is too influenced by poverty in wider society to change
Social democratic views on social policy
Reshuffle of society is needed - redstribution of wealth from rich to poor
Townsend - sociologists involved in researching social problems, make policy suggestions to erase conflict and social issues in society. More public spending & increase in welfare state
Townsend study - ao2
Researched poverty - the black report proposed 37 policy recomendations (free school meals, improved living conditions and improved spending)
Eval of Social democratic
Marxists - Social policy suggestions dont go far enough and restructure of society is needed to change in order to change capitalism. Capitalist state unlikely to implement public spending that benefit working class at the expense the ruling class
Feminism views on policies
The state inplements policies to benefit men and reinforce patriarchy e.g family policies create self-fulfilling prophecy through encouraging women that their ideal family is the patriarchal nuclear family
- However libfems may believe policies that enforce gender equality & policies is how women and men will achieve equality
policies and society - feminists
Equal oppurtunity policies - equal pay, oppurtunites in education through national curriculum policy has improved women’s right through march of progress
Eval of feminists
Impacted the way women are represented - education policies shown positive images of women
-Teacher training inclusive to both sexes & avoid bias
Rad&marxfems - argue libfem progress is not enough
New right on social policy
Reduce government interventions in people’s lives to make people self-sufficient
Sociologists should propose alternative policies that increase people’s individuality for their own welfare rather than relying on the state to maintain them
policies and society - new right
Murray - Welfare benefits created dependency culture. rewarded irresponsible behaviour, people reliant on benefits and not working
Breakdown Britian 2007 - conservative group that proposed a list of policies including parenting classes, marriage and mothers staying at home
Eval of new right
Criticised by feminists for being tradition patriarchal and outdated
Social policies should help people help themselves instead of welfare state doing it for them
