Social Policy

Question 1

Policy - What is a social policy?

Answer 1

• Plans + Actions of state agencies
- Laws introduced by gov attempting to deal with a social problem
• Welfare –> poverty
• Schools –> jobs
• Local Council –> DV/Child Abuse
- Affect everyone

Question 2

Policy - Social Problem vs Sociological Problem - Worsley

Answer 2

• Social Problems –> Social beh causing public frictions
- poverty, crime, divorce
- solved by gov
• Sociological problems –> patterns requiring an explanations
- girls achieving more, divorce increasing

Question 3

Policy - Factors Affecting researchers influentiality

Answer 3

• Electoral popularity –> Findings point to policy unpopular among voters
• Ideological Perspectives of gov –> Researxhers perspective similar to gov = more influential
• Interest groups –> pressure groups
• Globalisation –> International Organisations (EU)
• Critical Sociology –> Critical of state seen as hostile - no influence
• Costs
• Funding sources –> tone down findings to fit paymasters wishes

Question 4

Policy - Perspectives- Functionalism - Durkheim

Answer 4

• Sociology is a science so provides objective info to improve soc
• Soc based on value consensus + gov reflects soc values
- All policies are good –> help institutions function
- Policies maintain order - reflect values
• Piecemeal Social Engineering - gradually change over time

Question 5

Policy - Perspectives- Left Realism - Townsend

Answer 5

• Policies should tackle issue of social inequality
- should research how to eradicate problems
- should promote equality of opportunity
- Must change capitalism over time

Question 6

Policy - Perspectives - Marxism

Answer 6

• Social policy had 3 functions:
- Ideology + Welfare State –> Makes system looks like it cares for poor whrn doesn’t
- Maintain labour force–> NHS keeps workers healthy
- Prevent Recolution/change

Question 7

Policy - Perspectives - Feminism

Answer 7

• Policies are patriarchal + produce SFP
- If gov promote NF, many women conformed to oppressed family structure
• Liberal–> lead to march of progress
- girls ed/women’s family role improved
• Radical –> policies controlled by men + ensure women’s subordination
- women’s should be seperate to resolve inequality

Question 8

Policy - Perspectives - Right Realism/New Right

Answer 8

• State should have minimal involvement in people’s lives
• Policies undermin indiv responsibility, create dependency + undermine work ethic
• Welfare provides incentives for anti-soc beh:
- single fathers assume soc takes care of child when abandon
- Public housing encourages young women to get pregnant
- Single mothers cause young boy crime

Question 9

Policy - Perspectives - Right Realism/New Right - Murry

Answer 9

• Social policies must:
- socialise young through NF
- Maintain male work ethic