Social Policy

Question 1

Social Problem vs Sociological problem

Answer 1

WORSLEY - Social problem is public friction or private misery that requires collective action.

Social problem is a sociological problem but not vice versa. sociological problem is any behaviour that needs to be explained.

Question 2

Sociology’s contribution to social policy

Answer 2

GIDDENS

• self empowerment, ability to reflect on position and act to change it.
• Awareness of the variety of groups and their social realities.
• Political influence - New Labour Left Realism, New right, right realism.
• Provide a theoretical framework
• -Practical professional knowledge.
• identify social problems with blue sky thinking - class, gender

MCNEIL
Accepted into culture, makes policies either seem good or stupid.

Question 3

Reasons to be involved in social policy

Answer 3

TOWNSEND - Need to be involved so can help, his work on poverty very influential to labour. Need to be involved if want policy change.

Liberal feminists
If not involved then women’s voices are not heard , laws reinforce patriarchy such as child benefit immediately to the mother. social policy can create real positive social change i.e 1960 Equal Pay Act.

Functionalists
Need to be involved so can help enlightenment by offering objective scientific knowledge on how society should be run.

MURRAY - Dislike state intervention, but agree should be involved to help make people more independent. MARSLAND - dont want sociology that will boo and hiss from sidelines.
Breakdown Britain - former tory leader - parenting and marriage class.

Practical - may be only means to get funding
Townsend - 5m
-139m social research council

Question 4

Reasons to not be involved in social policy.

Answer 4

MARXISTS -
The state is the problem, social policy will not help.
- If critical will not be used ie Black Report.
- Threat of reversal
-NHS and welfare state used to maintain workforce and prevent revolution.
TOWNSEND- Not fair, poverty research was used.

Radical Feminists
State is patriarchal problem, cannot support.
BUT Calls for freedom from violence cause gov to help fund refugee centres BUT 2015 1/3 turned away.

Postmodernists.
No one truth, if help social policy are helping impose one truth on others, instead should research to highlight diversity of experiences.

Practical
Positivist methods
Limit thinking - work and pensions no blue sky
Ethics - No control, my do damage.
-

Question 5

Factors that prevent sociology’s impact on social policy.

Answer 5

Cost - May not be able to afford to implement.

Globalisation - If member of the EU cannot simply change law or policy without permission.

Political ideology - Need to fit ideology of the party. Insititute for social justice and policy xchange - toryy. Institute for public policy labour.
DAVIE - Distort to fit own views hiding behind fig leaf of science i.e 20006 prostitution focus on non violent clients. 2008 cannabis updated to A class drug despite evidence saying wouldn't help and previous downgrade made child rtes drop 19%.

ELECTORATE-
Need to be a populist policy. TONYBEE - Public want more police on the beat despite only being 100m from a crime once every 8yrs, want more in prisons but it is proven this does not work.

Culture
BOWBY- social problems are defined by culture.

Pressure groups
Davie - define the problems, suited to their own interests