Families & social policy Flashcards
Cross cultural policies affecting the family:
- Chinas one child policy to control the population
- communist Romania, no abortions or contraception to drive up birth rate
- Democratic societies (Britain) family is private sphere, government doesn’t intervene
Functionalist perspective of policies
- the state acts in societies interests
- policies help the family perform functions more effectively (Fletcher)
- national health service means family members can take care of themselves
Criticism of functionalist perspective on policies
- assumes that policies work for and benefit everyone, when really benefit men
- assumes there has been a march of progress, marxists argue policies have reversed progress.
Donzelots conflict view of policies
- sees policy as a form of power and control
- concept of surveillance
- social workers/ doctors use knowledge to control/change families
New right view on policies
- value traditional nuclear family
- family is self reliant without need of policies
- causes social problems and dependency
Murrays view on the state welfare policy
- reward irresponsible anti social behaviour
- council housing, encourage teen pregnancies
- fathers abandon childcare responsibilities as the state will deal with it
New rights solution to policies
- cuts in welfare spending & eligibility
- denying council housing to unmarried teen mothers
Evaluation of new rights view on policies
- assumes the patriarchal nuclear family is natural not socially constructed
- feminists, justified patriarchal nuclear family
Feminists view on policies
Policy makes it more difficult for people to live in other family types then the one policy makers assume we live in
Policies which support patriarchy
tax & benefits= assume husbands are main wage earners
childcare= government doesnt pay for enough, mother cant work
caring for sick/elderly= family will provide this (women) prevented from working full time
Evaluation of feminist view
- not all policies maintain patriarchy:
- equal pay
- sex discrimination laws
Marxist view on policies
Offers a caring face of capitalism, distracts the poor from thinking the state cares about them through policies, but actually reinforces exploitation and capitalism
The divorce act
One partner is no longer at fault for marriage ending
encouraging women to escape abusive relationships
Leading to an increase in lone parent families
Same- sex couples act
- Allowed same sex couples to get married and have the same rights as heterosexual couples
Maternity leave
- Mothers in the UK (2023) are entitled for 52 weeks of maternity leave, 39 weeks are paid
