Theorists - Family and Social Policy

Question 1

Key Theorist - Fletcher (1966): Functionalist View of the Family and Social Policy

WHAT DOES THIS THEORY ARGUE?

Answer 1

• The introduction of health, education and housing policies in the years since the Industrial Revolution has gradually led to the development of a welfare state that supports the family in performing its functions effectively.

Question 2

Key Theorist - Donzelot (1977): Evaluation of Functionalist Ideas about Family and Social Policy

WHAT DOES THIS THEORY ARGUE SOCIAL POLICY IS?

Answer 2

• A form of state control and power over families.

Question 3

Key Theorist - Murray (1984): Family and Social Policy

WHAT DOES MURRAY ARGUE ABOUT SOCIAL POLICY?

Answer 3

• The state give families perverse incentives to lead diverse family types including lone parent families.
• Welfare state benefits lead to irresponsible fathers, teenage pregnancies and a rise in the crime rate due to absent fathers.

Question 4

Key Theorist - Leonard (1978): Patriarchal Policies and the Family

WHAT DOES THIS THEORY ARGUE?

Answer 4

• Even when policies appear to support women, they may still reinforce the patriarchal family and act as a form of social control of women.

Question 5

Key Theorist - Condry (2000): Marxist Evaluation

WHAT DOES THIS THEORY LOOK AT?

Answer 5

The state controls the family, by providing compulsory parenting orders which were parenting classes to show parents how the learn the ‘correct way’ of raising children.

Question 6

Key Theorist - Donzelot (1977): Evaluation of Functionalist Ideas about Family and Social Policy

WHAT DOES THIS THEORY ARGUE?

Answer 6

• Argues that social workers, health visitors and doctors use their knowledge to control and change families. He refers to this as ‘the policing of families’.