Social Policy - Perspectives on Policy and the Family: Functionalism

Question 1

What does social policy refer to?

Answer 1

The guidelines or laws created by governments with intention of bringing about change in people’s behaviour for the greater good of society

Question 2

Aspects of our social life regulated by social policy (4)

Answer 2

Family
Education
Marriage
Work

Question 3

Functionalist view of social policy towards the family: positive or negative?

Answer 3

Positive

Question 4

Why do functionalists take a positive view of social policy?

Answer 4

They believe that the state (government) acts in interests of whole society and social policy benefits everyone

Question 5

Functionalist view of welfare state

Answer 5

Positive view, arguing it takes lots of pressure off the family

Question 6

How does the existence of the NHS take lots of pressure off the family according to functionalists?

Answer 6

Because it means that family’s are better able to take care of their members when they are sick

Question 7

Criticism of functionalism view of social policy: assumption about benefit of members

Answer 7

It assumes that all members of the family benefit equally from social policies whereas feminists (for example) believe it only benefits men

Question 8

Criticism of functionalism view of social policy towards the family: march of progress

Answer 8

Assumes that there is a march of progress with social policies steadily making family life better