6⃣ Social Policy And The Family Flashcards
What effects on family does law and policy have
⚫️direct effects
➡️some policies are specifically aimed at family
⚫️indirects effects
➡️policies on other social or economic issues
➡️affect the family
What does social policy mean
⚫️measures taken by state bodies
➡such as school, welfare agencies
⚫️usually based on
➡️laws introduced by government
Give examples of different policies, and how they effect family life
⚫️indirect effects
➡️compulsory schooling
➡️provide childcare for working parents
➡️also keeps children dependent financially for longer
⚫️direct effects
➡️laws on
➡️marriage, divorce, child protection, contraception and abortion
What is functionalist view on the relationships between social policy and the family
⚫️they see society based on value consensus
➡️acts in interests of the whole society
➡️its policies benefits everyone
➡️policies help family to perform its functions
➡️e.g socialising children, caring for the welfare of its member
⚫️there is a march of progress
➡️policies gradually improving family life
➡️e.g.
➡️welfare state enables families to look after their members better
➡️through access to NHS
Give an evaluation of functionalist view on relationships between social policy and the family
⚫️functionalist assume policies benefit everyone
➡️feminist argue only benefit men
⚫️assume policies make family life better
➡️but can also make it worse
➡️e.g. Cutting benefits to poor families
What is the new right view on social policy and the family
⚫they’re conservative political perspective
➡️opposes state intervention in family life
➡️has major influence on social policy
⚫️see traditional nuclear family as natural
➡️based on biological division of labour
➡️between male breadwinner and female nurturer
⚫️if parents perform roles properly
➡️family will be self reliant
➡️able to socialise children effectively
➡️care for its members
⚫️opposes family diversity
➡️sees lone parent and same sex families
➡️damaging to children
Why does the new right have a problem with social policy
⚫️welfare policies lessen the effectiveness on family self reliance
➡️by providing generous benefits
➡️e.g. To lone parent families
⚫️results to dependancy culture
➡️individuals depend on the state
➡️to support their families
⚫️murray ➡️see benefits as perverse incentives ➡️rewarding irresponsible behaviour ➡️e.g, if state provides benefits to lone mothers ➡️fathers will abandon their families
Whats the solution of the new right problem of the social policy
⚫️cutting welfare spending
➡️especially universal benefits
➡️will give fathers more incentive to provide for families
⚫️unlike functionalists
➡️who see policies benefiting families
➡️new right believe
➡️the less familes depend on state, the better
Give an evaluation of the new rights solution of the social policy problems
⚫️feminist criticise new right view
➡️an attempt to justify
➡️patriarchal nuclear family
➡️that oppresses women
⚫️Nuclear family not natural
➡️but socially constructed
How is the new labour similar to the new right of the view on social policies
⚫️favours traditional family
➡️usually the best place to raise children
⚫️prefers mean-tested benefits targeted at the poor
➡️rather than universal benefits
How is the new labour different from the new right for social policies
⚫️political perspective
⚫️more accepting of family diversity
➡️e.g. Introduced civil partnership Act
➡️and legislation to allow cohabiting couples to adopt
⚫️believes some policies can improve family life
➡️e.g. Extra benefits for poor families
What is feminist view on the social policies and families
⚫️conflict perspective
➡️see society based on a conflict of interest
➡️between me and women
➡️society is patriarchal
⚫️social policies often shape or define family life ➡️in ways that benefit men ➡️and maintain patriarchy ➡️disadvantaging women ➡️and maintaining their subordination
⚫️land argues
➡️policies assume patriarchal families to be the norm
➡️so policies act as a self self fulfilling prophecy
➡️helping to reproduce this family type
➡️e.g. Maternity leave is longer than paternity leave
➡️reinforcing women’s responsibility for childcare
Give an evaluation of the feminist view between social policy and the family
⚫️not all policies maintain patriarchy ➡️e.g. ➡️women refuges, laws against rape in marriage ➡️in Sweden ➡️policies treat women as individuals ➡️not dependants
What is marxism view on the relationship between social policy and the family
⚫️conflict perspective
➡️see society as divided into two classes
➡️were capitalist class exploit the working class
➡️by paying them less than the value they produce
⚫️all social institutions ➡️including policies ➡️serve the interests of capitalists ➡️e.g. ➡️low level of benefits for the old ➡️maintains on the cheap ➡those who can no longer be used to produce profits
Give examples of how the policies affecting families often result from the needs of capitalism
⚫️in world war two
➡️women needed as a reserve army of labour
➡️so government set up nurseries
➡️to enable them to work
⚫️after the war ➡️women no longer needed ➡️nurseries were closes ➡️forcing them back into the housewife role ➡️and dependance on husbands
