Social Policy And The Family

Question 1

What are social policies

Answer 1

Refer to laws made by the government which aim to improve society or deal with a social policy

Question 2

What are the two types of social policy?

Answer 2

1. Provide material support for the family

2. Help parents balance working life and family life

Question 3

1980-1990’s Conservative Policies

Answer 3

Aim was to strengthen the traditional nuclear family, emphasising self help and resilience.
E.g.
-Children’s act
-Established child support agency

Question 4

1997-2010 New Labour policies

Answer 4

Silva & Smart - favoured duel earning families but also emphases the heterosexual nuclear family and for parents to take responsibility for their children
E,g, parenting orders
Longer maternity leave

Question 5

2010-onwards Coalition Policies

Answer 5

Inconsistent policies on the family due to conflict between two camps of MP’s
E.g. 
removed couples penalty 
Shared parental leave 
Equal marriage act

Question 6

Parsons theory of family diversity

Answer 6

Functional fit theory

Family changes alongside society

Question 7

New right theory: Murray

Answer 7

Diversity is the cause of society breakdown

Only one correct family type, the Patriarchal Nucleur family with a clear cut of labour between the husband and wife

Question 8

Postmodernism

Answer 8

Diversity is increasing and a result of growing choice and globalisation in the modern world

Question 9

Feminism; Stacey

Answer 9

Growing diversity is a positive move for women

Allowed women to break away from traditional roles and create family arrangements which meet their needs

Question 10

Chester: Neo Conventional Family

Answer 10

Statistics are misleading regarding the extent of family diversity