Family + Social Policy Flashcards
1
Q
define social policy
A
- social policy = the plans + actions of the state agencies such as heath and social services, the welfare benefits system, schools to change society
2
Q
outline an example of social policy in China
A
- China’s one child policy: China’s population control policy aimed to discourage couples from having more than 1 child
- couples who comply get rewards such as free child healthcare, higher tax allowances, priority in education + housing
- those who break it have to pay a fine
3
Q
what are democratic societies’ stance on family policies
A
- democratic societies, such as Britain, understand that the family is a private sphere in which the Gov does not intervene in
- except when things ‘go wrong’, e.g. child abuse
- however, some say Gov policies still have a huge impact on families
4
Q
outline the Functionalist view on policies
A
- society is built on harmony + a consensus (shared values) + is free from major conflict
- the state acts with the interests of society and their social policies are beneficial to all
- Fletcher: the introduction f housing, health and education polices has led to the welfare state that supports the family in performing its functions
- e.g. the establishment of the NHS helps the family to care better for its members when they are sick
5
Q
outline 2 AO3 evaluations of the Functionalist view on policies
A
- it assumes all family members benefit equally from these policies: feminists argue policies often benefit men at women’s expense
- it assumes there is a ‘march of progress’: in which policies are steadily making family life better. Marxists say that policies can reverse progress - e.g. cutting benefits for poor families
6
Q
outline the view of Donzelot on policies (‘policing the family’)
A
- Donzelot: views policies as a form of state power + control over families
- D uses Foucault’s concept of surveillance in which power isn’t just something held by the state but as diffused throughout society
- Donzelot outlines the ‘policing of families’ in which professionals use their knowledge to control + change families
- poor families are more likely to be seen as problems in which professionals target for ‘improvement’
7
Q
outline AO3 evaluations of Donzelot’s view on policies
A
- Marxists + Feminists: Donzelot fails to identify clearly who benefits from such policies of surveillance
- Marxists: social policies operate within the interests of the ruling class
- Feminists: men are the beneficiaries
8
Q
outline the New Rights view on policies
A
- state policies have encouraged the changes leading to greater family diversity (divorce, gay marriage, etc) + have helped to undermine the nuclear family
- Almond: laws making divorce easier undermines the lifelong commitment of a marriage
- legal marriage for LGBT couples emits the message that the state no longer views the heterosexual relationship as superior
- increased rights for cohabitants (e.g. adoption rights) makes cohabitation + marriage more similar
9
Q
outline the New Right’s view on lone parents, welfare policy and the dependency culture in relation to policies
A
- New Right Murray: critical of social polices as they provide too generous welfare benefits (e.g. cash payments to lone parent fams) which undermines the nuclear family + encourages dysfunctional family types
- these social polices reward irresponsible behaviour;
e.g. if a father sees that the state will maintain their children, some will abandon their paternal responsibilities - policies encourage a dependency culture which threatens 2 functions of the fam; the successful socialisation of the young, maintenance of the work ethic among men
10
Q
outline the New Right’s solution
A
- policy must be changed; cuts in welfare spending + tighter restrictions on who is available for benefits
- this would have several advantages; e.g. reduced taxes; these changes would also give men more incentive to work + provide for their families
- policies should support the nuclear family; e.g. taxes that favour married couples rather than cohabiting
- the less the state interferes with families, the better family life will be
11
Q
outline AO3 evaluations of the New Right
A
- feminists: its an attempt to justify a return to the patriarchal NF in which women are exploited
- Abbott + Wallace: cutting benefits would only further drive poor families into greater poverty
- the NR ignores several policies that maintain the conventional NF
12
Q
outline the New Right’s influence on policies
A
- NR is a a conservative view first developed in the 1970s
- however, it doesn’t greatly influence Conservative policies
- there is more similarity between NR + New Labour
13
Q
outline the Conservative Gov (1979-97) in relation to family polices
A
- banned the promotion of homosexuality; e.g. ban on teaching that homosexuality was an acceptable relationship
- defined divorce as a social issue; emphasised continued responsibility of children after divorce - Child Support Agency
- made divorce easier + gave same rights to children born to unmarried parents as those born by married parents
14
Q
outline the New Labour Gov (1997-2010) in relation to family polices
A
- took the view that family is the bedrock of society
- emphasised the need for parents to take responsibility for their children - Parenting Orders for parents of young offenders
- NL policies favoured dual-earner families; longer maternity leave, Working Families Tax Credit, New Deal (helped lone parents return to work)
- NL showed support for non- NFs through: civil partnerships for SS couples, giving unmarried couples the same rights to adopt, outlawing sexuality based discrimination
15
Q
outline the Conservative Gov (2010-24) in relation to family polices
A
- Conservatives can be classed into 2 divisions; modernisers + traditionalists
- modernisers = those who recognise that families are now more diverse + are willing to reflect this in their policies
- traditionalists = those who favour the NR view + reject diversity
- this division means that the Conservative Party has found it difficult to maintain a consistent policy motive
- e.g. the Conservative-led Coalition Gov introduced gay marriage, but also their reductions in welfare spending reflects this division
16
Q
outline feminists view on policies
A
- take a conflict view on policies
- polices, like other state institutions, help to maintain women’s subordinate position + the inequal DoL
17
Q
outline policies as self-fulfilling prophecy
A
- policies are often based on the assumption of what the ‘normal’ family type is
- Land: many social policies assume that the ideal family is the male-dominated nuclear family with a male breadwinner + female homemaker + their dependent children
- this assumption affects the types of policies made - and in turn, reinforces that family type
- e.g. with the assumption that ‘normal’ families are based on marriage; the Gov offers tax incentives to married couples, which may encourage cohabiting couples to marry
- policies make it more difficult for people to live in other family types than the one policymakers assume they live in
18
Q
outline policies supporting the patriarchal family
A
- feminists identify several polices that help to maintain the patriarchal family
- e.g. tax and benefit policies: child benefits are usually paid to the mother; assuming that the child’s welfare is her primary responsibility
- e.g. care for sick/ elderly: policies often assume the family will provide this - usually expected for the women to do the care. this prevents them working full-time/ being economic dependent
19
Q
outline an AO3 evaluation of the feminist view on policies
A
- not all policies are aimed at maintaining a patriarchal family
- e.g. Equal Pay Act 1970, Equality Act 2010, benefits for lone parents, equal divorce rights; all challenge the patriarchal family and improve women’s positions in society
20
Q
outline gender regimes
A
- Drew: uses the term ‘gender regimes’ to describe if different countries’ social policies encourage or discourage gender equality in the family + at work
- familistic gender regimes = policies are based on a traditional gender division between male breadwinner + female carer
- e.g. Greece: there is little state welfare or free childcare; thus women have to rely on support from their extended kin + there is a traditional DoL
- individualistic gender regimes = policies are based on gender equality, wives aren’t assumed to be financially dependent on husbands; husbands aren’t assumed to be the sole breadwinner; so each partner has separate entitlement to state benefits
- e.g. Sweden: policies treat husbands + wives as equally responsible for both breadwinning + domestic tasks
21
Q
outline state vs market
A
- Drew: most EU countries are moving toward an individualistic regime
- this is likely to make a move toward gender equality in family roles + relationships
- however, equality policies such as state funded childcare isnt cheap, and can involve conflicts about who should be eligible for certain benefits
