social policy

Question 1

What do functionalists believe about sociology and social policies?

Answer 1

• sociological research should help the government create policies to help society function
• tackle one issue at a time with ‘piecemeal sociological engineering’

Question 2

Evaluation to functionalism’s view on sociology and social policy?

Answer 2

• too optimistic
• marxists criticise this piecemeal approach, they argue that issues in wider society need to be tackled before specific issues can be addressed

Question 3

What do Marxists believe about sociology and social policies?

Answer 3

• the welfare state masks capitalism by giving it a caring face
• the NHS keeps workers fit enough to work
• a means of preventing revolution
• sociology should focus on removing capitalism

Question 4

What is the black report?

Answer 4

• a document that highlighted many of the extreme class inequalities in Britain
• made 37 far-reaching policy recommendations including free school meals, improved working conditions, better benefits for the disabled

Question 5

What are some criticisms of the marxist view on social policy and sociology?

Answer 5

• benefits and welfare acutally do help the working class

Question 6

What do liberal feminists believe about sociology and social policy?

Answer 6

• sociological research can influence governments to create laws which reduce inequality

Question 7

What are some criticisms of the liberal feminist view of sociology and social policy?

Answer 7

• too optimistic and more extreme change is needed
• this can be supported by the failure of policies such as the equal pay act

Question 8

What do radical and marxist feminists believe about sociology and social policies?

Answer 8

• the state perpetuates women’s subordination through social policy

Question 9

What are criticisms to the marxist and radical feminist view of sociology and social policy?

Answer 9

• ignore the positive changes that have and can be made through social policy
• they criticise social policy because it is refromist rather than revolutionary

Question 10

What does the New Right believe about sociology and social policy?

Answer 10

• social policy is bad because it encourages dependency (e.g welfare benefits encourage lone parenthood)
• the government should have minimal involvement in people’s lives
• social policy should only exist to reduce the need for them in the future

Question 11

What are some criticisms to the New Right view of sociology and social policy?

Answer 11

• their research is often biased and/or lacks evidence
• sometimes there is a need for large government involvement

Question 12

What do the social democrats believe and sociology and social policies?

Answer 12

• similar to marxism however are more positive and believe western governments can be a force for good
• they believe that inequality exists, any they want a more equal society
• unlike marxists they believe sociological research can help the government create policies to reduce inequality

Question 13

What do postmodernists believe about sociology and social policy?

Answer 13

• sociological research doesn’t provide the truth because there is no such thing as the truth. It just provides a possible truth
• creating social policies is pointless because it aims to fix something that may not exist