perspectives on family and social policy Flashcards
what is social policy?
plans/actions made by the government which aim to change, improve or regulate behaviour and/or social conditions
FOR EXAMPLE:
- family
- poverty
- unemployment
- education
policies are usually based on laws introduced by governments so may change depending on the political party in power
how do social policies have an impact on the family?
social policies regulate the family, for example:
- marriage/divorce laws
- abortion/contraception laws
- child protection laws
- adoption laws
what is the functionalist view of social policies?
functionalists say that the state make policies that are:
- in the interests of society
- serve a positive function
- help families perform their functions effectively
- make life better for society
what does RONALD FLETCHER (functionalist - 1966) say about policies?
argues that health, education and housing policies have led to the development of a welfare system that supports the family
what does MICHAEL FOUCAULT (marxist) say about social policies?
- says the state controls the family and keeps it under constant surveillance through policies and laws
- these policies empower certain agencies and professionals such as doctors and social workers
- these are ‘experts’ who use their ‘expert knowledge’ to control and change families
what does JACQUES DONZELOT (marxist) say about social policies?
like FAUCAULT, DONZELOT believes the state are policing the family through the following:
- doctors, social workers and health visitors observe and monitor families
- poor families are often targeted by professionals as ‘needing improvement’
- the state can control/regulate family life by imposing parenting orders through the courts
- parents of young offenders, truants or badly behaved children may be forced to attend parenting classes to learn the ‘correct’ way to bring up children
the new right and policies
don’t like policies that support family diversity, such as:
- civil partnerships
- adoption rights for gay and cohabiting couples
- cohabitation, same sex, lone parent families
critical of policies that:
- promote equal opportunities to women in work
- make divorce easier
- promote sex education in schools/free contraception for teenagers
examples of new right views (JOHN REDWOOD - conservative MP)
conservative MP JOHN REDWOOD stated in 1993: ‘the natural state should be the two adult family caring for their children’ - and for him this means a male and a female adult
- the new right are linked to the conservative party
- strongly support the conventional nuclear family with traditional gender roles
- they believe parents should be married
- believe mothers should stay home and not work
- believe families should not receive benefits
- dislike feminism
- don’t believe in family diversity as they believe it creates instability and social problems
the new right attitude on the state:
- the state should not interfere with family life as much as it does as families should be self-sufficient
- the state has undermined people’s ability to stand on their own two feet by providing welfare benefits
CHARLES MURRAY (new right sociologist 1984)
- MURRAY is critical of the welfare state
- he says the rise in single parents is caused by an over-generous welfare state
- he believes the welfare state threatened the two essential functions of the family:
CORRECT SOCIALISATION OF CHILDREN - single parents can’t discipline their sons effectively who lack a male role model/authority figure
MAINTAINING A GOOD WORK ETHIC AMONG MEN - young men who see the state will provide won’t go get jobs or take responsibility for their children
the new rights solution:
- cut welfare taxes
- stop council housing for unmarried teenage mothers
- give tax breaks to married couples
criticisms of new right policies:
- their policies would justify gender inequality and patriarchy
- cutting benefits would increase poverty for poorer families
summary - functionalism vs the new right
functionalists say that state policies help the family to function
however…
the new right think too much intervention leads to families not being able to function properly
conservative government (1979 - 97) policies on the family
during the 80s and 90s, conservative government policies were aimed at strengthening nuclear families and reducing welfare benefits
- supported ‘back to basics’ campaign which supported a return to traditional family values
- ban on promotion of homosexuality
- set up the child support agency to enforce maintenance payments
- gave illegitimate children the same rights as children born to married parents
new labour government (97-2010) policies on the family
held different views to the new right/conservative in these areas…
FAMILY DIVERSITY
- allowed gay/cohabiting couples the right to adopt
- civil partnership act (2004) recognised gay/lesbian couples as a legal family form
WORKING MOTHERS/DUAL INCOME FAMILIES
- increased free childcare/nursery education
- introduced flexible working hours for parents
- extended maternity leave
STATE INTERVENTION/WELFARE
- introduced policies aimed at getting all children out of poverty
- introduced tax credits
- raised minimum wage
