the state and social policy as influences on the family

Question 1

Functionalist view

Answer 1

They argue that the relationship between the family and political institutions is a mixed one.

Throughout much of the industrialised world, the state has progressively removed a range of functions from the family, in areas such as education and welfare.

The state acts in the interests of society as a whole & its social policies are for the good of all.
Fletcher (1966) the welfare state, education, NHS, housing help the family to perform its functions more effectively.

Question 2

Criticisms of functionalists

Answer 2

Assumes all members of the family benefit from social policy, feminists say that policies benefit men at the expense of women

Assumes a ‘march of progress’ with social policy making life better & better

Marxist point to cuts in welfare services that can turn the clock back by cutting welfare to poor families

Question 3

New Right

Answer 3

Eichner (2010) argues for a ‘supportive state In the where poltical institutions act to ‘support families in performing their caretaking and human development functions.

The role of the state here involves encouraging family structures and relationships that are seen as good and not encouraging those that are not.

Government policies should be directed at supporting traditional family

Question 4

Criticisms of New Right

Question 5

Marxism

Answer 5

Marxism focuses on relating what the faily does such as socialisation to how it benefits powerful groups for example how the ruling class benefits from free family services , e.g bearing the cost of raising children.

-For marxists the relationship between the family and capitalist state is based on how the family helps to maintain and reproduce social inequalities.

• The state as part of the political and ideological superstructure is seen as supporting and promoting the family group as a stabilising force

The financial and moral responsibilities people take on when they create family groups lock them into capitalist economic relationship.Althusser argues that families are an ideological state apparatus.Children learn values that blend them into capitalist society.

Question 7

Feminism

Answer 7

different forms of feminism have different perspectives on the relationship between the state and the family.

Liberal feminism ;
-Traditionally looked to the state and legal agencies as a way of redressing gender imbalances in the family life through social policies