Families and social policy

Question 1

Family policy

Answer 1

China one child policy- reducing the grow n population, those that only have one get benefits those who break pay fines.
Communist Romania- restricted contraception and abortion to increase children, those without children paid higher taxes.

Question 2

Donzelot - policing the family

Answer 2

social workers, health visitors and doctors use their knowledge to control and change families- this is policing family. This is surveillance on the family, it is done more on the poor as they are seen to be the cause of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Question 3

Functionalism

Answer 3

state is helping families, Fletcher- policy has created the welfare state which helps families.

Question 4

Murray- welfare state (New right)

Answer 4

Welfare state offers perverse incentives, social policy has created more lone families, and children out of wed lock.

Question 5

Conservative gov 1979-97 (new right effects)

Answer 5

• banned promotions of homosexuality
• viewed divorce as a problem and said still parents jobs to care for children after a divorce
• set up child support agencies, made sure absent adults were still paying money to the child
  HOWEVER- made divorce easier and gave illegitimate children same rights as children born in wed lock

Question 6

New Labour 1997-2010 differ to new right

Answer 6

• smart- new labour respected dual earner families
• increased maternity leave, for both parents
• civil rights for gay couples
• unmarried couples can adopt same as married
• outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.

Question 7

Policies supporting the patriarchal family

Answer 7

• tax and benefits, women can’t get social security benefits as men are expected to be the main earners
• childcare is minimal so still not both parents can work
• welfare thinks family will look after the elderly