Social Policy Flashcards
Conservative party view of the family
The family is incredibly important and it is the responsibility of the family to teach children norms and values of society such as good behaviour, discipline and respect authority. This happens best in a nuclear family
What do conservatives think that children from single parent families are more likely to experience
Bad health, behavioural and emotional problems, and become delinquents
What did the new right think that social policy should do
Make the institution of marriage sacred as this encourages couples to stay together. divorce should be difficult and only the last resort or family diversity should be discouraged
Labour party view of the family
The family is incredibly important and there is a wide variety of different family forms. While labour recognises the benefits of a two parent family, They argue family diversity is positive and should be celebrated
Labour view of social policy
Social policy should support the diverse variety of family forms in modern Britain. People should have freedom and choice to decide which family form best suits their needs, and the government should support this
Social policy definition
Laws made by the government which aim to improve society or deal with a social policy
Feminist view of social policies
Assuming a normal family is a patriarchal nuclear family with a male breadwinner and female homemaker, and therefore social policies ensure the maintenance of this family type
Marxist view of family policy
Marxists see Family policy as a way for the ruling class to maintain the capitalist control of society, ensure that that the family continues to support capitalism
What are the two types of social policy?
Providing material support for the family, such as cash benefits through tax credits and child benefits
Helping parents to balance working life and family life such as maternity pay, earliest childcare and child protection laws
What was the aim of Conservative policies throughout 1980s to1990s
The new right had a lot of influence during this time so the main aim of policies were to strengthen the traditional nuclear family emphasising the self-help and reliance and reduce welfare payments
Examples of conservative policies
Child support agency, 1993,
Children’s at 1989
Married men’s tax allowance
Section 28
Aim of new labour policies from 1997 to 2010
Favoured dual, earning families, but also emphasising the heterosexual nuclear family and for parents to take responsibility for their children and some alternate alternative family types
Example of new labour policies
Parenting orders, longer maternity leave, working families tax credit, the new deal and civil partnerships, sex discrimination laws and unmarried couples adoption
What did the divorce reform act of 1969 do
Made divorce easy, easy to obtain and allow women to fall for divorce from her husband, without having to prove adultery, abuse or abandonment
impact of the divorce reform act on the family
Increase in family diversity, especially single parent families and reconstituted families and increased women’s independence
