Topic 7 - Families and Social Policy Flashcards
What are some examples of family policies internationally?
- China’s One Child Policy
2. Russia 1980’s restricted conception and abortions, and lowered marriage age to increase birth rate.
What did Donzelot (1977) suggest about family policy (Marxist)?
That policies are a form of state power to control the family, social workers etc.
That this is used to monitor families and control them.
How did Condy (2007) agree with Donzelot study?
That the state regulates families by sending parenting orders and sending parents of youth offenders on parenting courses.
What did New Right sociologist Almond (2006) argue about divorce laws?
That they (and 2014 civil partnership) send a signal that heterosexual relationships are inferior.
- Increased rights for cohabitation = marriage no longer special.
- Tax laws discriminate against men as they cannot receive non working wife allowance = dual earn better pay less tax.
What did New Right sociologist Murray (1984) say about welfare payments?
That they create a dependency culture that undermines the traditional nuclear family.
- Encourages fathers to abandon children
- Council housing encourages unmarried teens to become pregnant.
- Increase in lone parent families = no male role models.
What are the New Right’s solutions to family policies?
- Policies that cut welfare and restrict benefits e.g Universal credit limit.
- Taxes to favor fathers that are married and working.
- The family must become more self-reliant.
What are criticism of the New Right’s family policies?
- Feminists - suggest that they promote patriarchy and subordination of women as housewives.
- It assumes that patriarchy is natural and not social construct.
- Cutting benefits makes the poor poorer and less self reliant.
- Ignore policies that support the family.
What are some of the New Rights influence in family policies?
- Developed an influence on the 1970’s conservative governments of 79-97.
- They banned promotion of homosexuality.
ALTHOUGH
- They made divorce easier and improved illegitimate children rights.
What New Labour 1997-2010 view linked with parts of Functionalist and New Right?
- See the family as bedrock of society and nuclear family essential (Functionalist view)
- Parents should take responsibility for their children and introduced parenting orders.
What view of the New Labour (1997-2010) link with traditional labour views?
- Longer maternity leave
- Working family tax credits
- Created the new deal to get people back to work.
- Favored min wage and redistribution of wealth
- Advocated for civil partnerships and gave unmarried couples same rights as married.
Name 2/3 2010 - 2013 Coalition Government family policies?
- Equal Marriage (Same Sex)
- Shared Parental Leave
- Removed couples penalty.
Name a 2015+ conservative government policy?
- Universal Credits Limited (Child benefits no more than 2 children).
What did Feminist sociologist Land (1978) argue about policies?
That they reflect the assumption that the nuclear family is superior with clear division of labour and conjugal roles.
Which policies support Land (1978) study?
- Tax and Benefit policies - assume male is the main earner.
- Social Security limited as male assumed to be the main provider.
- Childcare limited = push women into part time work (38%) last yr.
- Domestic duty idea of the family.
What does Leonard (1978) suggest about maternity leave?
That it is a form of social control and that it reinforces the assumption that females are the carers.
Also child benefit given to mothers and the children is their responsibility.
