social policy and the family Flashcards
What kind of things do left wing parties support?
collectivism, state should be involved in family life, nuclear family desireable, support individualistic gender regimes, support alternative family structures
What kind of things do right wing parties support?
individualism, supports familistic gender regimes, nuclear family is in decline causing social problems, neo-liberalism- state should be limited, alternative family roles are bad and inadequate.
What are familistic gender regimes?
look at a persons family status when deciding benefit entitlement
What are individualistic gender regimes?
sees a person as an individual when deciding benefit entitlement.
What are some policies the conservative government implemented, 1979-1997?
failed to introduce free childcare- assumes mother will look after child
benefits cut, single parent benefits- discourages dependency, reinforces NF
banned promotion of homosexuality in education- heterosexual m/f parents, NF reinforcement.
What do the conservative government social policies, 1979-1997 show their view of family life?
heavily reinforced the formation and maintenance of NF as they believed it ideal.
,made it difficulty for people to move away from it by discouraging family diversity, e.g- same sex marriage
What are some policies the new labour government implemented, 1997-2010?
civil partnership act, 2004- same sex more equal and legal encouraging diversity.
free childcare for 2.5 year olds- gives both parents a chance to work.
sure start centres in w/c areas provided convenient access to support services. Plus new deal for LP’s back in work- support rather than punish.
Which of the new labour policies supported a traditional view of the family?
parenting orders for parents of truants and young offenders
Which new labour policies supported a neo- conventional view of the family?
working family tax credit
more paternity leave rights
sure starts centres.
What are some policies implemented by the coalition government, 2010-15?
child benefits became means tested, looked at your income to see if you were valid.
legal aid cut- families couldn’t get divorced, rolling back the state
marriage, same sex couples, 2013 passed-encouraged family diversity, non hetero normative.
Which of the coalition government policies reflected a traditional view of the family?
austerity measures led to cuts in public spending
focus on problem families, troubled families programme 2011
child benefits become means tested
legal aid cut
according to Murray, what is the cause of family breakdown?
divorce to easy to obtain- “dissolution”
parents not taking responsibility for behaviour of children- “dysfunction”
to many fathers loosing contact w children and refusal to take responsibility of them-“dadless-ness”
What factors can lead to a family being identified for the troubled families programme?
involved in crime and anti-social behaviour, adults who have never worked or are welfare dependent.
kids who persistently truant from school.
high cost to public purse in terms of what they claim from state.
How have historians criticised the troubled families programme?
presents misleading and inaccurate picture of British past filled w happy untroubled families. However, evidence suggests that every generation over last 200 yrs has expressed concerns and moral panic over “troubled/problem” families.
Ha the troubled families programme been succesful?
data says 3/4 of family’s who have been “turned around” are still committing crimes, being excluded from school and are jobless.
creates stereotype for poorer families as defiant and delinquent.
What do functionalists say about social policy on the family?
welfare policies have allowed families to become more specialised- Durkheim
if govt can ease financial pressure, family can focus on task of socialisation
However, would not like policy’s promoting family diversity as believe NF is best unit
What would Marxists say about social policy on the family?
social policy offering support is a “smokescreen” distracting attention away from exploitation.
Lasche and Danzelot- social policy undermines parental authority, fragmenting the proletariat.
What would feminists say about social policy on the family?
social policies encouraging women’s decision to leave the family viewed positively, example- child tax credits.
liberal feminists- some social policies reinforce gender stereotypes, example- unequal mat and pat leave.
What would new right thinkers say about social policy on the family?
policies reinforcing NF are ideal, example- benefit cuts to single parents.
benefits encouraging lone parent families seen as negative as they raise delinquents.
How does social policy compare to that in China?
Chinas one child policy, ppl fined if have more than one child. Policies forcing women to get abortions or sterilize unauthorized pregnancies.
cultural preference to men, women babies are abandoned and aborted.
How does social policy compare to that in the US?
low fertility rate of 1.89. Could be due to Title X-federal grant programme funding health centres.
However, US has dark past. During WWII eugenics policies introduced to breed children w best traits. Eugenics policies included immigration limits on nationalities considered “undesirable”. Laws providing sterilization for undesirable Americans, like disabled people.
