Social Policy Flashcards
What is social policy
Plans and actions of state agencies such as health and social services, the welfare state benefits system, schools and other public bodies
Describe the functionalist view on Social policy
They see the state as acting in the interests of society as a whole and its social policies as being good for all. Functionalists see policies as helping famillies to perform their functions more efficently
Flecther argues that the introduction of health, education and housing policies in the years since the industrial revolution has led to the development of the welfare state the supports the family and it’s functions.
National health service means the family is able to take care of it’s members when tey are sick
Criticisms of the functionalist approach to social policy
Assumes all member of the family benefits equally from social polciies feminists argue that policies often benefit men and the expense of women.
Assumes that there is a march of progress with social policies improving family life. Marxists argue that policies can also turn the clock back and reverse progress previsoly made such as welfar benefits cuts
Describe Donzelots approach to social policy
conflict view neo marxist: sees policy as a form of state control and power over famillies.Adapts foucaults self surveillance to family. Sees power as diffused throughout society. Doctors social workers use knowledge to control and change famillies. policing of famillies.
Condry: state may impose compulsory parenting orders through courts. to correct behavior
Criticisms of Donzelot approach
Fails to identify who benefits from such polciies of surveillence. Marxists argue policies benefit capitalist class and feminists argue that they benefit men
What do the new right believe about social policy
Social polices have encouraged changes from the ideological nucelur family and helped to undermine it.
Brenda Almon argues that laws making divorce easier undermines the idea that marraige should be a lifelong commitment. The introduction to civil partnerships sends out the message that the state no longer sees heterosexual marraige as superior. Tax laws discriminate against conventional famillies.
Murray argues welfare policy is encouraging a culture of dependency and undermines the nucleur family. They offer perverse incentives- they reward anti social behavior. e.g providing councel houses for teen mothers and supporting fatherless children. these threaten succseful socialisation of the young and the maintenence of work ethic among men.
What is the new rights solution
Policy must be changed and welfare spending must have cuts. Therefore taxes could be reduced. also advocate for policies which support the traditional nuclear family
Criticisms of the new right beliefs on social policy
Feminsits argue that it is an attempt to justify a return to the traditional patriarchal family in which women are oppressed and confined to domestic roles.
It assumes the patriarchal nucleur family is natural rather than socially constructed.
Pam Abott and Wallace argue cutting benefits would drive poor families into greater poverty making them less reliant.
Ignores many policies which supports nucleur family.
Describe the conservative goverment 1979-1997
New right view (thatcher) banned promotion of homosexuality by local authorities. consiidered divorce a social problem. Set up child support agency to enforcee maintence payments on absent fathers. Made divorce easier and giving illegitmate children same rights as those born to married parents.
Describe the new labour giverments 1997-2010
Took the view that the family is bedrck of society and family headed by marraige with heterosexual couples the best enviroment to raise children.
Introudced parenting orders for parents of truants and young offenders.
Silva and smart note new labour rejected the new right view that the family should have one male earner and recognised women work too.
longer maternity leave
working families tax credit.
new deal helping lone parents return to work.
supported civil partnerships
outlawing discriminations of sexuality
Describe the coalition goverment 2010-2015
introduced gay marraige
gov failed to introduce policies that specifically promote NR ideal family
Uni fees increased
Describe feminist approach of social policy
Conflict view. all social institutions including the state and its policies help to maintain womens suboordinate position in the family.
Hilar Land argues that many social policies assume that the ideal family is the patriarchal family with male provider and women homemaker. Policies reinforces type of family at the expense of other types creating a self fulfilling prophecy.
Tax benefits assume husbands are the main wage earners.
Childcare: not enough pre school care to permit children to work full time reinforcing women as caregivers.
care for elderly assumes that the women will look after them,
Leonard argues even when polciies try to support women it still reinforces this view. e.g maternity leave longer for women child benefit paid to mothers.
Criticisms of Feminsit approach to social policy
Not all policies directed at maintaining patriarchy e.g equal pay, sex discrimmination laws, benefits for lone parents rape within marraige criminal offence 1991.
Describe Ellen Drew’s concept of gender reigmes on social policy
Describes how social policy can encourage or discourage gender equality in the family and at work.
Familistic gender reigimes-where policies are based on a traditional gender division between male breadwinner and female homemaker. Greece little funding for childcare
Individualistic gender reigmes- policies are based on the belief that husbands and wives should be the same. e.g sweden men and women treated as equally responisble for breadwinning and domestic tasks
List as many social policies as you can and the year
1885- age of consent from 12 to 16
1945- child benefit introduced and paid to mothers
1969- divorce reform act irretrievable breakdown
1974- contraception and family planning free on nhs
1980- childrens act-protection from abuse
1991- rape withing marraige illegal
2014- same sex can legally marry 10 years after civil partnerships created
2015-parental leave can be shared
2019- abortion legalised in nothern island
Covid and social policy
lock down in family- rise in domestic abuse/violence privatisation of famillies increase in divorce decline in birth rate, schools shut digital divide no free school meals or childcare prevent jobs
