SOCIAL POLICY Flashcards
What is the functionalist approach to state policies affecting families and who is the sociologist?
Fletcher
Argues the introduction of health, education and housing policies since ethe industrial revolution has led to the development of the welfare state that’s supports the family
What is an example of social policies supporting the family according to functionalists?
The NHS means that the family is able to take care of its members when there sick
How can you criticise the functionalist perspective on social policies in family?
Assumed all the members benefit equally, feminisists argue policies often benefit men
Assumes there is a march of progress, Marxists argue that policies can restrict progress, e.g, reducing welfare to poor families
What is Donzelot, a conflict perspective, perspective on social policies towards the family?
‘The policing of families’, sees policy as a form of state control and power over families
What is an example of Donzelot perspective of social policies on the family?
Professionals carry out surveillance of familes. Social workers, health visitors and doctors use their knowledge and control to change familes
Surveillance isn’t targeted equally on all classes, poor families are more seen as problem familes in need of improvement
How can you criticise Donzelot’s perspective on social policies towards the family?
Marxists argue that social policies operate in the interests of the capitalist class
Feminists argue that men are the main beneficiaries
How do the New Right feel about the social policies towards the family, and who is rhe sociologist?
Murray
The state is providing generous welfare benefits, the policies offer perverse initiatives- they reward irresponsible behaviour
What are some examples according to the New Right of social policy, rewarding irresponsible behaviour?
If fathers see that the state will maintain their children, they will abandon their responsibilities
Providing council housing for unmarried teenaged mothers encourages young girls girls get pregnant
Growth of lone parent families are encouraged by generous benefits
What is the New Right solution to the problem of social policy?
Must be changed, cut welfare spending and higher restrictions on who is entitled to benefits, denying Council housing- to reduce perverse incentives
How can you criticise the New Right perspective on family and social policy?
Feminists argue its an attempt to return to the patriarchal nuclear family
Cutting benefits will drive poor familes into greater poverty, making the even less self reliant
Assume patriarchal nuclear family is natural
Who is the sociologist for the feminist perspective on social policy towards the family and what do they say?
Leonard
Policies appear to support women but they reinforce the patriarchal family and act as a form of social control over women
In what ways do social policies benefit the patriarchy according to feminisists?
Maternity leave policies: much more genius for maternity leave than paternity leave, implies women are responsible for the infant. Maternity benefits are also low, increasing mothers economic dependace
Child benefits usually sent to the mother, implies mothers are responsible for child’s welfare
How can you criticise the feminist view on social policies towards familes?
Not all policies are directed to maintaining patriarchy, e.g. equal pay and sex discrimination laws, rape in marriage made illegal in 1991
What are the two different types of gender regimes and what sociologist came up with the concept
Drew: describes how social policies in different counties encourage or discourage gender equality
The two different types;
Familistic gender regimes- policies based on traditional gender divison
Individualistic gender regimes- policies are based on being treated the same
Give an example of a country that exercises familistic gender regimes?
Greece
Little state welfare of publicly funded childcare, women rely heavily on support from extended kin. There is also traditional division of labour
