Role of social policy Flashcards
1
Q
What is social policy ?
A
Documents produced by governments to attempt to influence how society is organised. Some seek to make social changes and others are in reaction to changes which have already occurred within society.
2
Q
Relationship between sociological and social policy
A
Researchers will be paid by the government to try to seek solutions for key issues and the government can then use those findings to produce policies
3
Q
Influence of sociology on social policy
A
Sociologists research may or may not be used by a government for multiple reasons :
- It may lack electoral popularity which could cost votes
- It may not be ideologically compatible with the governments stance
- Governments can be under pressure from interest groups
- They need to consider the cost of the proposal
- They need to consider the impact on the global community eg Huawei friction has caused tension in china-UK relationship
4
Q
Theories
A
- Positivist and functionalist perspectives
- The New Right
- The social democratic perspective
- The Marxist perspective
- The feminist perspective
5
Q
The social democratic perspective
A
- Tied to left wing ideas
- Poverty is the biggest cause of social problems in the UK
- Townsend and Wilkinson : claim the UK is one of the most unequal societies in the world, Social inequality is the main cause of social problems so gov. policies should focus on addressing this, sociologists should find the causes of inequality and use these to guide the government towards appropriate policy development
6
Q
Evaluation of social Democrat view
A
- SDV criticised by marxists as they believe the government will never wrk for the benefit of the poor and instead argue that most policies seek to reproduce and maintain class divides
7
Q
Social problem vs sociological problem
A
social problem = Social behaviour that causes friction and calls for collective action to solve it eg poverty and educational underachievement
Sociological problem = A pattern of relationships that causes for explanation eg why some people are poor
8
Q
Feminist perspective
A
- Society is built on the exploitation of women by men, its patriarchal
- Many policies which exist promote patriarchal ideology eg women get longer maternity leave than men do paternity leave
- Liberal feminists = sociological researchers should work alongside governments so as to introduce policies which serve to improve the position of women in society
- Involved in suffrage movement, 1960s fertility rights eg contraception as well as employment rights
9
Q
Evaluation of feminism
A
- Critics argue there is still a long way to go and policies haven’t eradicate patriarchal oppression
- Some argue feminists are pushing for change where it isn’t needed eg some want women at home
10
Q
Positivist and functionalist perspective
A
- Compte and Durkheim believe sociological research should be used to objectively study society, uncover the source of social problems and produce objective solutions to such problems
- Functionalists believe that the gov. and sociologists play a role in maintaining social order for the benefit for everyone in society as a whole
- Sociologist should be an objective researcher and gather data on behalf of the gov. (objectivity through neutrality)
- Government should take a piecemeal approach to social policy (social changes should be implemented gradually eg one issue at a time should be tackled rather than large changes (coalition gov. approach to educational policy for A-Levels)
11
Q
Evaluation of positivist + functionalist perspective
A
- The idea that policies can benefit society through piecemeal change have been criticised by marxists
- They argue no amount of policy development will truly benefit individual people
12
Q
The New Right Perspective
A
- Peoples lives should be as independent as possible + interference should be kept to a minimum
- The constant interference in to lives and the creation of a nanny state has heightened social problems
- Particularly critical of the welfare state calming it provides people with perverse incentives eg pregnant women = access housing
- Critical of policies which excessively modernise society eg same sex marriage
- Propose changes needed :
1. Encourage people to take personal responsibility for themselves
2. Emphasis on the marketisation of services to improve accountability - They have been influential over the conservative partys politics eg austerity
13
Q
Evaluation of the NR
A
- Criticised for being old fashioned
- Feminists argue it reinforces patriarchal ideas and encourages the oppression of women
- Views on marketisation can be criticised eg it can lead o further inequalities
- Stance on benefits can be challenged eg no evidence people have children purely for the benefits
14
Q
Marxist perspective
A
- Unequal division of wealth and power is the biggest source of social problems
- many polices contribute to the maintenance of this inequality eg minimum wage fails to safeguard people leaving many in poverty despite working long hours
- Polices like the NHS are a smokescreen designed to trick people in to thinking capitalism doesn’t care for their wellbeing
- Believe sociological researchers should play no role in the production of social policies
- Reject the view that policies can ever improve society
- Sociologists should criticise the government and reveal the levels of exploitation
- Changes can only be made when the proletariat are fully aware of their exploitation
15
Q
Evaluation of marxism
A
- Criticised for being unrealistic and overly critical
- Compared to other countries the UK has a largely fair approach to those in need
- The view that a revolution is necessary can be criticised eg in many communist regimes, the poor have still been oppressed
