F&H: Social policy

Question 1

what do we generally mean by ‘social policies’ ?

Answer 1

refers to the plans + actions of state agencies such as health & social care services, schools, the welfare benefit system etc. Laws introduced by government

Question 2

give an example of a social policy regarding marriage and one regarding children

Answer 2

marriage - must be 18. can only marry 1 person at a time UK. cannot be closely related
children - minimum wage = £7.55. free education. age 17 to drive. age 18 to drink, smoke, vote.

Question 3

NAME an example of a social policy that directly impacts families in the UK

Answer 3

• the bedroom tax 2013
• same sex marriage 2013
• free childcare for 2-4 year olds

Question 4

what is the bedroom tax policy? explain

Answer 4

government introduced tax on spare bedrooms for people living in council houses. lose 14% of your housing benefit if you have 1 spare bedroom. Lose 28% for 2 spare bedrooms.

Question 5

what was the purpose of the bedroom tax policy?

Answer 5

to have smaller families in smaller homes, and bigger families in larger houses.

Question 6

explain the free childcare for 2-4 year olds policy

Answer 6

• 15 hrs (a week) free childcare for 2 year olds - for families receiving low-income benefits
• 15 hrs free childcare for ALL 3&4 year olds
• 30 hrs free childcare for 3&4 year olds - for low-income families in work.

Question 7

NAME the 2 case studies that study the impacts of social policies in families in different societies / countries.

Answer 7

1) China’s one child policy
2) Romania’s pro childbirth policy

Question 8

discuss China’s one child policy and its impacts

Answer 8

-introduced 1978 - 1980, population had risen to 1 billion, so wanted to halt population growth.
-prevented around 1 million births
-punished families violating the rule via large fines, employment loss, forced abortion etc.
-valued male babies more. caused female infant mortality to rise.
-elderly dominating society

Question 9

discuss Romania’s pro childbirth policy and its impacts

Answer 9

1966 - outlawed abortion for women under 40 with fewer than 4 children. The birthrate doubled, but then slowed as women resorted to homemade illegal abortions.
1977 - all childless persons were made to pay an additional monthly ta.
1980s - condoms and the pill were banned. Doctors who performed abortions were imprisoned. Women were examined every 3 months in their workplace for signs of pregnancy.

Question 10

what was supposedly the purpose of Romania’s pro childbirth policy?

Answer 10

• Romania had industrialised late and after WW2 the birth rate was low.
• believed population growth = fuel economic growth.

Question 11

How did the pro childbirth policy impact the children born under these laws?

Answer 11

• teachers were abusive
• very full, violent and neglectful orphanages - hardly any clothes / food given to the children

Question 12

NAME the 5 sociological perspectives that study social policy

Answer 12

• functionalist
• the New Right
• Feminist
• Marxist
• Donzelot

Question 13

how do functionalists generally view social policies?

Answer 13

-social policies are for the good of all and operate in the interests of society. they help families perform their functions more effectively.

Question 14

which functionalist specifically comments on social policy ?

Answer 14

RONALD FLETCHER

Question 15

what does functionalist Ronald Fletcher say about social policy?

Answer 15

-the introduction of health, education + housing policies since the industrial revolution have gradually led to the development of the welfare state which supports the family in performing its functions.
-NHS means that the modern family are able to take care of members more effectively when they are sick.

Question 16

give a criticism of the functionalist view of social policy

Answer 16

• assumes all family members benefit equally from social policy. Feminists argue that policies often benefit men at the expense of women
• Marxists point out that policies can turn the clock back + reverse progress previously made. Eg bedroom tax (cutting benefits for poor families)

Question 17

which family type do the New Right favour?

Answer 17

the traditional nuclear family based on a married heterosexual couple with the division of labour between a male provider and a female homemaker

Question 18

how does the New Right generally view social policy?

Answer 18

-social policies have encouraged changes in society that have led to greater family diversity due to increase in divorce, cohabitation, lone parenthood etc
-these changes have undermined the nuclear family + produces social problems like crime + welfare dependency

Question 19

what is welfare dependency / dependency culture?

Answer 19

being too reliant on benefits + often not working

Question 20

NAME the 2 new right sociologists that discuss social policy

Answer 20

• Charles Murray
• Brenda Almond

Question 21

which topics does Charles Murray particularly discuss regarding the negatives of social policies?

Answer 21

• perverse incentives of benefits
• fathers
• council housing

Question 22

what did Charles Murray say about social policy? (fathers, council housing)

Answer 22

-benefits have unintended / undesirable consequences as they reward irresponsible behaviour
-providing council housing for unmarried teenage mothers encourages young girls to have children
-if fathers see that the state will maintain their kids, some of them will abandon their family responsibilities.

Question 23

which topics does Brenda Almond particularly discuss regarding the negatives of social policies?

Answer 23

• divorce laws
• civil partnerships

Question 24

what did Brenda Almond say about social policy? (divorce, civil partnerships)

Answer 24

• laws that make divorce easier undermine the idea of marriage as a lifelong commitment
• introduction of civil partnerships for gay/lesbian couples sends out a message that the state no longer sees heterosexual marriage as superior.

Question 25

what is the New Right's 'solution' regarding social policy and welfare dependency culture?

Answer 25

to CUT BENEFITS + put tighter restrictions in place to decide who is eligible for benefits. - denying council housing to unmarried teenage mothers would remove incentives to become pregnant young. Fathers would gain more incentive to work + provide for families

Question 26

give 2 criticisms of the New Right's view on social policy

Answer 26

-ignores many policies that support / maintain the nuclear family rather than undermine it -feminists argue its an attempt to justify a return to the traditional patriarchal family that confines women -cutting benefits would simply drive many poor families into even greater poverty

Question 27

how do feminists generally view social policy?

Answer 27

- they help to maintain women's subordinate position + the unequal division of labour in family - encourages marriage and patriarchal norms

Question 28

IDENTIFY 3 policies that feminists believe are patriarchal and are at the expense of women

Answer 28

- the Marriage Allowance - child benefit - maternity leave - care for the sick / elderly - school calendar

Question 29

explain the marriage allowance policy

Answer 29

if you're married you can pay less tax by a few hundred pounds a year. encourages marriage over cohabitation, and patriarchal family norms

Question 30

how do feminists argue that child benefit is patriarchal?

Answer 30

it gets paid to the mother - assuming that the child's welfare is primarily her responsibility

Question 31

give a criticism of the feminist view of social policy

Answer 31

many policies benefit women: - equal pay act - sex discrimination laws - rape in marriage made illegal - benefits for lone parents - refuges for women escaping domestic violence

Question 32

how do Marxists generally view social policy?

Answer 32

-social policies serve the interests of capitalism + the ruling class, and are a means of preventing revolution. -policies like benefits make it look like the ruling class care about the working class and are helping them - provides ideological legitimation for capitalism

Question 33

explain the Marxist idea of social policies as a 'smoke screen'

Answer 33

social policies just cover up the inequalities in society. Just provide a smoke screen to the workers to mask their exploitation.

Question 34

what do Marxists suggest social policies like the NHS specifically do?

Answer 34

maintain the labour force for further exploitation. NHS keeps workers healthy + fit enough to work. Now retirement age being pushed back further and further as we stay fit and healthy

Question 35

give a criticism of the Marxist view of social policy

Answer 35

-deterministic - assumes all aspects of family life are determined by economic forces. -focuses on nuclear family type and not alternatives -functionalists would argue that they ignore the positive impact of social policies

Question 36

what TYPE of perspective is Donzelot's?

Answer 36

-social action approach -conflict -micro

Question 37

How does Donzelot view social policy?

Answer 37

-policy = a form of state control over families. -professionals like doctors/social workers are agents of surveillance. -professionals target working class families more, for 'improvement'.

Question 38

give a criticism of Donzelot's view of social policy

Answer 38

- Marxists + feminists criticise for his failing to identify who benefits from policies of surveillance. Marxists believe it is the ruling class, feminists argue it is men - a lot of social policies do support + help families