Social Policies Flashcards
Worsley
(Influence of Sociology on Policy)
‘Social Problem’ = piece of social behaviour that causes public friction, private misery and calls for collective action
‘Sociological Problem’ = piece of behaviour we wish to make sense of
Bowlby
(Mainstream culture/influence)
Idea that young childrens relationships with mother are crucial for normal development became widely accepted
Burden
(Influence of Sociology on Policy)
- Power to define problem
Social policies can’t be well understood if simply treated as “neutral” attempts to deal with “problems”
^ Those with power able to define what is/isn’t a problem
Durkheim
(Positivism and Functionalism)
Analysis led to proposed meritocratic education system - promote social cohesion
What are positivists/functionalist opinions on social policies
See them as ‘piecemeal social engineering’ - tackling one issue at a time
Townsend
(Social Democratic Perspective)
Sociologists should be involved in research and policy making so theirs a major distribution of wealth and income from rich to poor
Black Report
(Social Democratic Perspective)
Report on health inequalities - 37 policy recommendations. Labour Gov commissioned it in 1977 but not finished until 1980
^ Thatchers Coserv Gov refused to implement report recommendations = cost
How do Marxists see state and policies as not benefiting all members
. Policies provide ideological legitimation
^ Welfare state gives capitalism a ‘human face’
. Maintain labour force for further exploitation
^ E.g: NHS keeping workers fit
. Means of preventing revolution
^ E.g: Welfare system = buying off WC opposition
Feminist influences
. Feminist research impacted number of policy areas - liberal feminists
. Rad Fem ideas influenced refuges for women escaping domestic violence. E.g: Womens Aid Federation
Murray
(The New Right)
. Generous welfare benefits act as ‘peverse incentives’
