7. Social Policies Flashcards
FUNCTIONALISM:
What do they see policies as?
They see the state acting in the interest of society. Policies help families perform functions
FUNCTIONALISM:
Fletcher
The introduction of health, education and housing policies have gradually led to the development of the welfare state which supports families effectively
FUNCTIONALISM:
Evaluation - Feminists
Functionalists assume all members of the family benefit from polices - whereas feminists argue they all benefit men
FUNCTIONALISM:
Evaluation - Marxists
It assumes there’s a march of progress with social policies making life better and better - Marxists say policies can turn back the clock
NEW RIGHT:
In favour of NF’s
What’s their view on policies?
State policies have encourage change in family diversity and helped to undermine the NF
New Right have governmental influence about social policy - they claim the government create a dependancy culture
NEW RIGHT:
What do policies do to families?
Encourage teen pregnancy
Father’s will walk away
More boys are growing without a male role model around
NEW RIGHT:
What’s their solution?
Policies must be changed with cuts in welfare spending and tighter restrictions on who is eligible
NEW RIGHT:
Criticisms - Feminists
Argue this is an attempt to justify a return to the patriarchal family
NEW RIGHT:
Criticism
Cutting benefits would drive many poor families into poverty and even less self-reliant
FEMINISM:
What do they argue?
The state and its policies help to
maintain women’s subordinate position and unequal gender division in the family
FEMINISM:
What do they identify about policies?
They help to maintain the patriarchal nuclear family
FEMINISM:
Tax and benefits policies
Assume that husbands are the wage earners and women are financial dependants - this makes it impossible for wives to claim dependence
FEMINISM:
Childcare Policies
While the state pays for some childcare and pre-school children this isn’t enough to permit full time work. Policies around timetables and holidays make it hard unless women can afford extra childcare
FEMINISM:
Care for the sick and elderly
Policies assume the family will provide this care - in general women are expected to do this
FEMINISM:
Evaluation
Not all policies are directed at maintaining patriarchy - eg, the equal pay act, sex discrimination act, benefits for LPF’s and laws agains rape (Clare’s law)