Social Policy Flashcards
Outline the Functionalists view of social policy
They see it as good for all and that the state is acting in the interests of society as a whole
What effect does functionalist Ronald Fletcher believe social policy has?
- Helps families perform their functions more effectively
* Makes life better for members of society
Give an example of a social policy and explain how it helps the family
- NHS - family is better able to take care of family when they’re sick
- Maternity + Paternity policy - family can now raise children without risking job
- Child benefits - helps disadvantaged families raise their children
Give a criticism of the functionalist view of social policies using one other theory
- Feminists - funct• assume all members of family benefit from social policy - men benefit at expense of women
- Marxist - policies can reverse progress made e.g. welfare cuts
Outline the New Right view of social policy
Believe social policies undermine the family by weaken families self-reliance through generous welfare benefits
Give an example of a social policy and how it undermines the family
- Council housing - family relies on government for shelter
* Lone parent rate - single mother families rely on government to help them raise their children
What does New Right Charles Murray think of welfare benefits?
Argues they’re a perverse incentive - reward irresponsible or anti social behaviour
Explain how welfare benefits can be a ‘perverse incentive’
Benefits encourage lone parent families which means boys are growing up without a male authority figure. This is responsible for rising crime among young boys
Give a criticism of New Rights view on social policy
- Feminism - NR attempt to justify the traditional patriarchal family which keeps women confined to domestic roles
- Wrongly assumes nuclear family is natural rather than socially constructed
- Cutting benefits would drive poor families deeper into poverty
Outline the Feminist view of social policy
They reinforce patriarchal ideas about role and status of men and women
Give an example of a social policy that reinforces the patriarchy and explain how
- Tax benefits - assume husbands are main wage earners so women find it difficult to claim benefits
- Maternity leave - assumes mother is responsible for care of the children and not the husband
Give a criticism of the Feminist view of social policy
- Not all policies maintain the patriarchy - equal pay act + sex discrimination laws
- Eileen Drew - policy depends on country e.g. Swedish social policies treat husbands and wives as equally responsible for childcare
Outline the Marxist view of social policy
- Social policies don’t benefit all members of society equally
- State + policies serve capitalism + ruling class
- Policies that improve family life for working class are won through class struggle
Give an example of a policy that serves capitalism and explain how
- State pensions - Once workers are too old to produce profit, they’re maintained at the lowest possible cost
- NHS - keeps work force healthy so they can keep working and making profit
Give a criticism of the Marxist view of social policy using one other theory
- Functionalist - social policy benefits all members of society not just ruling class
- Feminist - ignore the effects family policy has on women
