(6) Social Policy Flashcards
Outline and Explain the Timelines of Government
- 1980 - 1990s - CONSERVATIVE - New Right Approach - aimed Strengthening Nuclear Families by Emphasising Self Help
- 1997 - 2010 - NEW LABOUR - continued the Concern about ‘Dysfunctional Families and Lack of Male Role Model in Female Headed Lone Parent, recognised Family Diversity
2010 - 2015 - COALITION - some NR Characteristics, declared ‘Strong and Stable Families of ALL KINDS are the Bedrock of a Strong and Stable Society
Explain the 1980s - 1990s Conservative Government Social Policy (SP)
period Associated by FAMILIAL IDEOLOGY - the Idea that the Traditional Nuclear Family is the BEST and MOST DESIRABLE FORM
SP aimed at STRENGTHENING Nuclear Families by Emphasising Self Help.
Many argued this was Simply a Way of Saving Huge Amounts of Money as BENEFITS were CUT - Discouraged Welfare Dependancy
Explain 2 SOCIAL POLICIES of the 1980s - 1990s Conservative Government
- SECTION 28 - 1988 - states that a Local Authority “ shall NOT intentionally PROMOTE HOMOSEXUALITY or Publish Material with Intention of Promoting it
“ or “ PROMOTE the TEACHING in any maintained School of the Acceptability of Homosexuality as a Pretended Family Relationship “ - extremely damaging legislation - CARE IN THE COMMUNITY - the State Encouraged Families to Take Responsibility for the Elderly and Long Term Sick. Burden for this usually Falling on Women, REINFORCED the TRADITIONAL DIVISION OF LABOUR, 4Prevented Women Working Full Time, making them DEPENDENT on Men
Explain the 1997 - 2010 New Labour Government Social Policy (SP)
Continued Concern about ‘Dysfunctional Families’ and Lack of Male Role Model in Female Headed Lone Parent
SP showed Recognition of Family Diversity, more emphasis in care and development of children. SP began to Represent more the Concerns of Feminist Critics of the Family
LEWIS argued that they Took the Idea of ‘Social Investment in Children” More Seriously by Creating a Children’ Commissioner, SETTING GOALS to ERADICATE CHILD POVERTY
What are 6 NEW LABOUR POLICIES
- 2003 CHILD TAX CREDIT - reduce child poverty
- 2005 Civil Partnership Act
- FREE NUSERY EDUCATION for ALL 3-4 YEAR OLDS - half day free to enable parents to work
- NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE Introduced - help poorly paid
- ‘NEW DEALS’ - to Support Lone Parents in Moving from Dependance on Welfare into Work
- SURE START CENTRES - Childcare - parent stays with child and gets educated
What did the COALITION declare
declared in 2010 a ‘STRONG and STABLE FAMILIES of ALL KINDS are the BEDROCK of a STRONG and STABLE SOCIETY
Explain the Coalition TROUBLED FAMILIES PROGRAMME
government Express Anxiety about Quality of Family Life
Expressed Concerns about ‘Broken Families’ -> believed were Behind London Riots 2011
Breakdown Britain report 2006 influenced by Murray
Family Breakdown was Underpinned by :
- DISSOLUTION - Divorce was Too Easy to Maintain
- DYSFUNCTION- Parents were Not Taking Responsibility for the Behaviour of their Children
- DAD-LESSNESS - Absent Fathers Not Taking Responsibility
What are 2 EVALUATION Points of the TROUBLED FAMILIES PROGRAMME
- Historians note that it presents a MISLEADING and INACCURATE Picture of British Families
- Fails to Appreciate the extent to which People are Poor due to No Fault of Their Own. A VICTIM BLAMING EXERCISE by the NR. Deflects Attention Away from the More Powerful, Cause of Family Poverty
What did the Coalition TROUBLED FAMILIES PROGRAMME identify?
identified 120,000 households who :
- INVOLVED in CRIME and Anti Social Behaviour
- Are a HIGH COST as BENEFITS CLAIMANTS
- Who have OTHER PROBLEMS such as POOR HEALTH
What are 3 EFFECTS of Coalition Economic Policy on Family Policy
- BRADSHAW - says by 2015 Cuts were having a Disproportionate Impact on the Poorest Most Vulnerable people, Resulting in a Rise in Child Poverty
- REED - says by 2015 Austerity Measures Resulted in More Families Out of Work, More Mothers Suffering from Depression, More People in Over Crowded or Poor Quality Accommodation
- UNICEF - Coalition Performance on Child Poverty was Disappointing Compared to 18 other wealthy countries
What did Charles MURRAY (NR) argued about the Family?
Families had been Badly Affected by Overgenerous Welfare Payments Particularly to Lone Parents
Lone Parenthood is Harmful to Society as it Encourages Irresponsible Behaviour Amongst Children who Copy their Parents
What are 4 Ways that STATE POLICY have on FAMILY STUCTURE?
- INCREASED COHABITATION AND DELAYED MARRIAGES
- INCREASED DIVORCE
- SAME SEX FAMILIES
- LONE PARENT FAMILIES
How does SP Impact Family Structure through - INCREASED COHABITATION and DELAYED MARRIAGE
- CAREER ASPIRATIONS of WOMEN mean Marriage is Delayed as Women are FOCUSED upon their Careers
- Avaliability of Contracpetion and Legalisation of Abortion means Couples can Delay Having Children
- Greater Geographical Movement means People often Work Apart or Decide to Travel Before Settling Down
How does SP Impact Family Structure through - INCREASED DIVORCE
- Divorce Reform has led to INCREASE in BREAKDOWN of Family Unit, leading to More Lone-Parent Families, Lone Person Households and More Reconstituted Families
- Creation of Welfare State meant resident parents could get Greater Financial Support from the State for looking after Children - e.g. Single Parent Benefits, child tax credits
How does SP Impact Family Structure through - SAME SEX FAMILIES
- Decriminalisation of Homosexuality, Introduction of Civil Partnerships and Same Sex Marriage have changed family structure
- Changes to Legislation to Adoption and IVF Treatments have led to an Increase in Same-Sex Families
How does SP Impact Family Structure through - LONE PARENT FAMILIES
- Welfare State provides Protections for Lone-Parent Families. This has Led to Accusations of ‘Welfare Dependancy’
- Avaliability of IVF treatment and Lone-Parent Adoption means Women can Choose to Parent Alone
- Creation of Child Support Agency to chose down Non-Resident Parents
STATE POLICTY - IMPACYS ON POLICY ON CHILDHOOD - FINSIH IN SUMMER
Explain 2 POLICIES that SUPPORT the PATRIARCHAL / traditional nuclear family
(1) TAX AND BENEFITS POLICIES - may Assume that Husbands are the Main Wage-Earners and that Wives are their Financial Dependants. Can make it Impossible for Wives to Claim Social security benefits in their own right since it’s Expected that their Husbands will Provide, thus Reinforces Women’s Dependance on their Husbands
(2) CHILDCARE - Policies Governing School Time Tables and holidays make it Harder for parent (usually mothers) to Work Full time unless they can afford Childcare. Means that Women are Restricted from Working and Placed in a Position of Economic Dependance on their Parents
State 4 Policies that SUPPORT the Conventional Nuclear Family
- Education Hours
- Child Benefit
- Family Tax Credit
- Child Support Policies for Fathers
State 3 Policies that ENCOURAGED Family Diversity / Undermine Conventional Families
- Benefits for Lone Parents
- Liberal Divorce Law
- Legalisation of Civil Partnerships for Gay/Lesbian Couples and of Same Sex Marriage
State Policies that have affected Gender Roles in the Family
- Equal Pay Act
- Sex Discrimination Act
- Abortion Law
Why are Feminists and Marxists Against Familial Ideology
FEMINIST - against as this ideology Promotes Patriarchy - the Father being the Head of the Household
MARXIST - don’t like it As it Promotes Capitalism
State 2 POLICIES that have had an EFFECT on FAMILY STRUCTURE
- 1969 DIVORCE REFORM ACT
- CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ACT (2004) and GAY MARRIAGE ACT (2014)
Explain how the 1969 DIVORCE REFORM ACT had an Effect on Family Structure
the Divorce RATE INCREASED MASSIVELY. It Allowed couples to divorce After they had been Seperated for 2 years. A marriage could be Ended if it had been Irretrievably Broken down, and neither had to prove fault
Act ALLOWED INDIVIDUALS to LEAVE MARRIAGES that were Simply Unhappy, which Provided GREATER CHOICE for MEN AND WOMEN in relationships
