(Families & Households)-Policies

Question 1

What is the impact of social policies on families?

Answer 1

Most social policies affect families in some way, with some aimed directly at them, such as laws on marriage, divorce, and child protection.

Question 2

What is an example of a family policy that had profound effects?

Answer 2

China’s one-child policy aimed to discourage couples from having more than one child, supervised by workplace family planning committees.

Question 3

What benefits did couples receive under China’s one-child policy?

Answer 3

Couples complying with the policy received extra benefits like free child healthcare and higher tax allowances.

Question 4

What was the Nazi family policy in the 1930s?

Answer 4

Nazi Germany encouraged the ‘racially pure’ to breed a ‘master race’ while sterilizing disabled individuals deemed unfit.

Question 5

How do democratic societies view family intervention?

Answer 5

In democratic societies like Britain, the family is seen as a private sphere with government intervention occurring mainly when issues arise, such as child abuse.

Question 6

What is the functionalist perspective on social policy?

Answer 6

Functionalists view social policies as beneficial, helping families perform their functions more effectively.

Question 7

What example supports the functionalist view of social policy?

Answer 7

Fletcher (1966) argues that health, education, and housing policies have led to a welfare state that supports families.

For instance, the existence of the National Health Service means that with the help of doctors, nurses, hospitals and medicines, the family today is better able to take care of its members when they are sick.

Question 8

What criticism do feminists have of the functionalist perspective?

Answer 8

Feminists argue that social policies often benefit men at the expense of women.

Question 9

What is Donzelot’s view on family and state policies?

Answer 9

Donzelot sees state policies as a form of power and control over families, utilizing surveillance by professionals.

Question 10

What does Donzelot mean by ‘policing of families’?

Answer 10

He argues that social workers and health professionals use their knowledge to control and change families.

Question 11

How does the New Right view the traditional family?

Answer 11

The New Right supports the conventional nuclear family and sees changes in family structure as threatening societal stability.

Question 12

What do New Right commentators like Charles Murray argue about welfare policy?

Answer 12

They argue that generous welfare benefits undermine the conventional family and encourage irresponsible behavior through ‘perverse incentives’..

Question 13

What is the New Right’s proposed solution to welfare dependency?

Answer 13

They advocate for cuts in welfare spending and tighter restrictions on eligibility for benefits.

Question 14

What influence did the New Right have on UK policy during the Thatcher era?

Answer 14

The New Right influenced policies that emphasized traditional family values and restricted benefits for unmarried couples.

Question 15

What was a key aspect of Labour’s family policy from 1997 to 2010?

Answer 15

Labour emphasized social liberalism, promoting gender equality and support for various family types.

Question 16

What measures did the Labour government introduce to empahsises social liberalism?

Answer 16

They extended maternity leave, increased childcare support, and prohibited discrimination against different family types.

Question 17

What did the Childcare Act of 2006 require councils to do?

Answer 17

It required councils to ensure there were enough childcare places available for mothers in their area.

Question 18

labour social liberalism policy

What significant legislation was introduced in 1998?

Answer 18

The Human Rights Act, which made discrimination against different types of families illegal.

Question 19

Labour social liberalism

What changes did the government make regarding NHS fertility treatment and adoption?

Answer 19

The government removed the requirement to be married to access NHS fertility treatment or the right to adopt children.

Question 20

What did The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) regulations of 2007 prohibit?

Answer 20

Discrimination against homosexuality in the provision of goods and services.

Question 21

When did Civil Partnerships for same-sex couples become legal?

Answer 21

In 2005.

Question 22

How did Henricson view the changes in family policy?

Answer 22

He saw them as a major shift away from policies favoring the traditional family with a male breadwinner.

Question 23

second aspect of labour policy

What was a key focus of Labour’s family policy?

Answer 23

It involved greater support and control in family life, particularly concerning parenting.

Question 24

What was the aim of the Labour government’s policies regarding child poverty?

Answer 24

To reduce and eventually eliminate child poverty.

Question 25

What financial support was provided to parents under Labour governments?

Answer 25

Child Tax Credits, which boosted the income of parents with low or moderate levels of income.

Question 26

What were Sure Start Centres?

Answer 26

They provided child services, parenting courses, and opportunities for pre-school education and play for children.

Question 27

# Labour support policy What was the purpose of Family Intervention Projects?

Answer 27

To work intensively with families at risk of social exclusion.

Question 28

What was the Parenting Order introduced in 2003?

Answer 28

It could require parents to have guidance and counseling if their children acted in anti-social ways.

Question 29

What did Clem Henricson argue about Labour family policies?

Answer 29

He argued they were socially liberal but also interventionist, producing greater equality between men and women.

Question 30

What criticism did Barlow, Duncan, and James have regarding Labour's family policies?

Answer 30

They argued that Labour preferred children to live with their biological parents to reduce reliance on benefits.

Question 31

What was the Coalition government formed in 2010?

Answer 31

A government formed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats after Labour lost power.

Question 32

Who were the key leaders of the Coalition government?

Answer 32

David Cameron as Prime Minister and Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister.

Question 33

What is the couple penalty?

Answer 33

A situation where a couple who are married or cohabiting pay more in taxes or receive less in benefits than those living apart.

Question 34

What did the Coalition agreement promise regarding the couple penalty?

Answer 34

It promised to reduce the couple penalty.

Question 35

What did Adam and Brewer find about the Conservative proposals on the couple penalty?

Answer 35

They found the proposals would only marginally reduce the couple penalty.

Question 36

What tax break was introduced for married couples and civil partners in 2015?

Answer 36

It allowed them to transfer some tax-free income from one partner to another.

Question 37

What was one of the key childcare policies introduced by the Coalition government?

Answer 37

Shared parental leave, allowing entitlement to parental leave to be shared between mothers and fathers.

Question 38

What was a controversial measure introduced by David Cameron in 2014?

Answer 38

The introduction of same-sex marriage.

Question 39

What policy restricted couples from living together based on income?

Answer 39

A policy stipulating that spouses of British citizens without UK citizenship could only come to Britain if their husband or wife had an income of £18 600 per year or more.

Question 40

What did the government do regarding child benefit for additional children in 2017?

Answer 40

They withdrew child benefit from new claimants for third or additional children.

Question 41

# criticisms of coalition government What did the analysis by Browne and Elming reveal about Coalition policies?

Answer 41

It found little evidence that tax and spending policies benefited traditional families.

Question 42

What was the main driver behind Conservative family policy according to the analysis?

Answer 42

A desire to save money from the benefits bill rather than to encourage or discourage traditional family forms.

Question 43

What do feminists argue about social institutions and state policies?

Answer 43

They argue that they maintain women's subordinate position and unequal gender division of labor in the family.

Question 44

What does Allan argue about state provision and the 'normal' family?

Answer 44

He argues it is based on an ideology where wives are economically dependent on husbands.

Question 45

# feminism What impact do school hours and holidays have on working parents?

Answer 45

They make it difficult for working parents to find affordable and flexible childcare.

Question 46

# feminism What is the assumption behind tax and benefits policies regarding husbands and wives?

Answer 46

That husbands are the main wage-earners and wives are their financial dependents.

Question 47

What does Diana Leonard argue about policies that appear to support women?

Answer 47

They may still reinforce the patriarchal family and act as social control over women. ## Footnote For example child benefit is normally paid to the mother, although this gives her a source of income that does not depend on the father, it also assumes that the child’s welfare is primarily her responsibility

Question 48

# criticisms of feminism What are some policies that challenge the patriarchal family?

Answer 48

Equal pay laws, rights for lesbians to marry, benefits for lone parents, and refuges for women escaping domestic violence.

Question 49

What concept does Eileen Drew use to describe social policies in different countries?

Answer 49

The concept of 'gender regimes' to describe how social policies in different countries can either encourage or discourage gender equality in the family and at work .

Question 50

What are familistic gender regimes?

Answer 50

policies which are based on a traditional gender division between male breadwinner and female housewife. ## Footnote In Greece for example, there is little state welfare or publicly funded childcare. Women have to rely heavily on support from their extended kin and there is a traditional division of labour

Question 51

What are individualistic gender regimes?

Answer 51

policies that treat husbands and wives equally, without assuming financial dependence. ## Footnote In Sweden , for example, policies treat husbands and wives as equally responsible both for breadwinning and domestic tasks. Equal opportunities policies, state provision of childcare, parental leave and good quality welfare services mean that women are less dependent on their husbands and have more opportunities to work.