Social Policy - Perspectives on Policy and the Family: Feminism Flashcards
Are feminists critical or supportive of family social policy?
Critical
Why are feminists critical of social policy towards the family?
They believe it tends to support the traditional patriarchal family
What do government policies reinforce according to feminists?
Reinforce the ideology that women’s place is in the home and men’s is the breadwinner
What do tax and benefits policies assume according to feminists?
Assume husbands are the main wage-earners and wives are financial dependents
What can tax and benefits policies make it impossible for wives to do according to feminists?
Make it impossible for them to claim social security benefits in their own right as it’s expected that husbands will provide
Why do childcare policies restrict women from working and place them in a position of financial dependency?
Because government payment for childcare of pre-school children is not enough (in most cases) to permit both parents to work full time
What do government policies often assume that the family provides according to feminists?
Care for the sick and elderly
Who is expected to care for the sick and elderly according to feminists and what is the negative of this?
Middle-aged women expected to do this, preventing them from working full time and increasing their financial dependency
What does Diona Leonard (feminist) believe about policies which appear to support women?
Believed they may reinforce the patriarchal family
Examples of how policies that appear to support women reinforce the patriarchal family?
Maternity leave entitlement much more generous than paternity
Child benefit normally paid to mother
Evaluation of feminist perceptive of social policy towards the family: policies not directed at maintaining patriarchy
Not all policies are directed at maintaining patriarchy E.g. equal pay and sex discrimination
Lots of policies introduced to improve women’s positions
