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Debates Sociology > Sociology and Social Policy > Flashcards

Sociology and Social Policy Flashcards

CAN/SHOULD INFLUENCE SOCIAL POLCY VS CANNOT/SHOULD NOT

1
Q

What are the 4 reasons as to why Sociology can and should influence Social Policy?

A
  • Functionalism and Positivism
  • Liberal Feminism
  • Social Democrats
  • New Right
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2
Q

What are the 4 reasons why Sociology cannot and should not influence Social Policy?

A
  • Piecemeal approach does not work
  • Difference Feminism
  • Marxists
  • Radical Feminism
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3
Q

What is meant by Social Policy?

A

Plans and actions of government to improve society.

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4
Q

What are some examples of social policies?

A
  • ZTP, gay marriage, divorce, ROSLA, education policies etc..
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5
Q

What did Early Positivists, such as Comte and Durkheim, view Sociology as capable of?

A

viewed sociology as a science that could discover causes of social problems and scientifically based solutions for them.

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6
Q

Functionalism and Positivism: What was Comte and Durkheim’s approach apart of?

A

Enlightenment Project, which used science and reason to improve society.

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7
Q

Functionalism and Positivism: How do Functionalists view the state/state policies?

A

State is beneficial for society and serves interests of all, producing and implementing policies for the good of all.

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8
Q

Functionalism and Positivism: How do Functionalists consider state policies? This mean that the relationship between sociology and state is…

A

State policies help society run more smoothly and efficiently - the relationship between state and sociology is positive, involves co-operation for a MOP.

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9
Q

Functionalism and Positivism: What kind of social policies do Functionalists favour?

A

‘piecemeal social engineering’

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10
Q

Functionalism and Positivism: What is meant by the ‘piecemeal social engineering’ policies that Functionalists favour?

A

Taking a step-by-step approach, tackling one issue at a time. By doing this, society’s problems can be manageably tackled.

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11
Q

Functionalism and Positivism: TRUE or FALSE; Functionalists take a MOP view by making society better one step at a time.

A

TRUE

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12
Q

What argument contradicts Functionalism and Positivism?

A

Piecemeal approach does not work.

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13
Q

Why does a piecemeal approach not work to solve societal issues?

A

By tackling issues one at a time, problems as a whole are not actually being solved.

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14
Q

What is an example of a social issue that is tackled, but defeated due to wider society?

A

Eg. Government aim tackle WC differences in education via policies such as Bursaries/FSMs - but this is defeated by the influence of poverty in wider society.

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15
Q

Why is a piecemeal approach not useful? Examples?

A

Social problems (eg. educational underachievement is a simple aspect of wider structural inequality). A one step at a time piecemeal approach is not useful if structural issues aren’t solved in first instance.

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16
Q

Therefore, according to the ‘piecemeal approach does not work’ explanation, what is the relationship between sociology and social policy like?

A

negative as problems are not being solved within society.

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17
Q

Social Democrats: What do social democrats favour?

A

Favour a major redistribution of wealth and income from the rich to the poor.

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18
Q

Social Democrats: What does Townsend suggest sociologists should be involved in?

A

researching social problems and should make policy recommendations to eradicate them.

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19
Q

Social Democrats: What did Townsend conduct research on? What did he recommend, based on his findings?

A

Conducted research on poverty and, based on his findings, made recommendations for policies such as higher benefits and more public spending on health, education and welfare.

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20
Q

Therefore, according to Social Democrats, it is possible for sociology and the state to..

A

Have a positive relationship because policy recommendations can tackle inequalities.

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21
Q

What arguments contradicts Social Democrats?

A

Marxists.

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22
Q

Marxists agree with Social Democrats that social problems such as class inequality are deep rooted in society, but…

A

Reject the idea that this can be solved by the government.

23
Q

According to Marxists, what is responsible for social problems, and how must be fix these problems?

A

Capitalism is responsible for these problems, and these problems cannot be solved without abolishment of capitalism.

24
Q

Marxism: What kind of policies is capitalism unlikely to introduce? What do social policies reflect?

A

costly public spending policies to benefit WC.
State represents RC, and so social policies serve interests of capitalism - not society.

25
Q

Marxists: Policies serve an ideological function to mask capitalist exploitation. How?

A
  • ‘caring face’ promotes a FCC and the false idea that the system cares for the poor, sick and old - remain passive.
  • maintain labour force - NHS services capitalism by keeping workers fit enough to work.
26
Q

Marxists, therefore, believe that sociologists main role should be..

A

Criticising capitalist social policy, not serving the state. Relationship between sociology and the state is negative as policies promote inequalities.

27
Q

Which branch of Feminism believe that Sociology can and should influence social policy?

A

Liberal

28
Q

Which branch of Feminism criticses LibFems and believe that Sociology cannot and should not influence social policy?

A

Difference Feminism

29
Q

According to LibFems. What is society based on?

A

conflict between gender as society is patriarchal, benefitting men at women’s expense.

30
Q

What kind of view do Liberal Feminists adopt?

A

Adopt a MOP view by arguing women’s rights have improved over time primarily due to legislation

31
Q

LibFems: What are some examples of the legislation/social policy that has improved women’s rights?

A
  • Equal Pay Act
  • Divorce Reform Act
  • Sex Discrimination Act
  • GIST/WISE policies
32
Q

LibFems have campaigned and conducted research to impact number of policy areas. What is an example of this?

A

education - LibFems influenced policies such as learning materials that promote positive image of women to avoid gender bias and challenge stereotypes in curriculum (GIST/WISE)

33
Q

Therefore, Liberal Feminists, believe the relationship between sociology and the state is..

A

Positive as it helps tackle gender inequality and create positive changes for women.

34
Q

Opposite to LibFems. What do Difference Feminists argue about patriarchy?

A

Patriarchy is experienced in different ways as women experience the world in different ways.

35
Q

DF: What is an example how women might experience the world differently?

A

A black, disabled woman in First World has a unique experience to a Hispanic woman in Third World.

36
Q

What do DFs argue feminism should be doing?

A

highlight diversity and difference in women’s experience of world, rather than over-generalising and marginalising certain groups.

37
Q

What do DFs argue social policies should do?

A

reflect the interests of different women and their needs.

38
Q

Therefore, Difference Feminists argue the relationships between sociology and the state is…

A

Negative - both generalise all females to have same experience, not account for differences. Should not influence SP.

39
Q

Which theory believe that state intervention in areas such as the family, income support and education undermines self-reliance?

A

New Right

40
Q

What do the New Right believe about state intervention in the family, income support and education does?

A

undermines self-reliance and individual sense of reality.

41
Q

According to the New Right. What can state intervention lead to?

A

Leads to greater social problems, such as crime and deviance.

42
Q

What does New Right, Murray, argue generous welfare benefits act as? What does this do?

A
  • ‘perverse incentive’ - rewarding unwanted behaviour, encouraging a dependency culture and an underclass of lone mothers, undisciplined children with irresponsible fathers who abandon families.
43
Q

What do the New Right aim to promote, rather than perverse incentives and dependency cultures?

A

TNF as the ‘ideal’ family type for primary socialisation and self-reliance.

44
Q

New Right: What does a TNF consist of?

A

Male - instrumental role.
Female - expressive role.
Family is self-reliant, and do not need to rely on government.

45
Q

New Right are critical of many existing policies such as DRA, but who are they closely aligned with?

A

Conservatives

46
Q

What Conservative policies do the NR support?

A
  • Policies on welfare as reduces dependency culture.
  • Policies on a tougher stance towards crime and punishment - adopt a ZTP approach where smaller sign of disorder must be tackled to prevent escalation.
47
Q

Therefore, NR believe the relationship between the state and sociology could be..

A

Could be positive, but may involve recommending policies that promote self-reliance and reducing dependency culture.

48
Q

Which arguments contradicts NR?

A

Radical Feminists

49
Q

What do Radical Feminists believe about patriarchy?

A

It is deep rooted in society and radical solutions are needed such as separatism.

50
Q

RadFems are critical of NR. NR view TNF is ideal, whilst RadFems view it as..

A

oppressive towards women and shouldn’t be encouraged.

51
Q

What do RadFems say about the NR argument to reduce benefits to minimise LPFs?

A

discriminates against women as they head a large percentage of LPFs. Doing this might discourage women from divorcing etc…continued oppression.

52
Q

RadFems: What would happen if the policies that the NR promote go ahead?

A

If these policies, which NR promote, go ahead - women plunged into further poverty, deepening patriarchy.

53
Q

Therefore, Radical Feminists, argue the relationship between sociology and social policy is..

A

Negative, as reinforced patriarchy and promotes further poverty for many women.

Debates Sociology (3 decks)

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