Topic 7 - Social Policy

Question 1

What is Social Policy?

Answer 1

Policies used for welfare and social protection

Question 2

What are some examples of Social Policy in other countries?

Answer 2

China - One child policy
Romania - gave benefits to people with children
Nazi Germany - Restricted access to abortion and contraception to breed the ‘pure race’

Question 3

What are some examples of Social Policy in Britain?

Answer 3

Free nursery places for 3-4 year old’s
Compulsory education
Maternity/Paternity leave
Child Protection act

Question 4

How to Functionalists view social policy?

Answer 4

They view them as helping families perform their functions more effectively and improving their lives.
State acts in interests of society

Question 5

What did Fletcher say? (functionalist)

Answer 5

Introduction of health, education and housing polices has gradually led to development of the welfare state, which supports families.

Question 6

What are two criticism of Functionalists views?

Answer 6

• Assumes all members of the family benefit equally

- Assumes there is a ‘march of progress’

Question 7

How does Donzelot view social policy?

Answer 7

As a form of state power and controls families

Question 8

How do the New-Right view recent social policies?

Answer 8

The greater family diversity caused by these social polices are threatening the conventional family and producing social problems.

Question 9

What does Almond argue? (new right)

Answer 9

• Laws making divorce easier undermine the idea of marriage as a lifelong commitment
• Civil partnerships show the state no longer views heterosexual relationships over other types.

Question 10

How does Murray view welfare policy? (new right)

Answer 10

• It undermines the conventional family and promotes harmful family structures
• They offer perverse incentives that reward irresponsible behavior

Question 11

What is a New Right criticism of current Social Policy?

Answer 11

It threatens:

• the successful socialization of the young
• the maintenance of the work ethic among men

Question 12

What is the New Rights ‘solution’?

Answer 12

Cut welfare spending and tighter restrictions on who is eligible

Question 13

How do feminists criticize the New Right view?

Answer 13

Its an attempt to go back to patriarchal nuclear family

Question 14

How do Abbott and Wallace criticize the new right view?

Answer 14

It will drive poor people further into poverty making them less self reliant

Question 15

Who banned the promotion of homosexuality?

Answer 15

Conservative - Margert Thatcher

Question 16

What did both New Labour and Conservatives emphasize?

Answer 16

The need for parents to take responsibility for their children
Introduced parenting orders for parents of young offenders

Question 17

What did Carol Smart say?

Answer 17

New labour reject the new right idea that family should have a male breadwinner

Question 18

What type of families did new labour polices favour?

Answer 18

Dual earner neo-conventional family

Question 19

What are some New Labour polices that promote dual earner families?

Answer 19

• Longer maternity leave

- working tax credit

Question 20

How did Labour support alternatives to the nuclear family?

Answer 20

• civil partnerships
• giving unmarried couples the same rights to adopt as married couples
• outlawing discrimination based on sexuality

Question 21

What are modernisers?

Answer 21

Recognise that families are diverse and reflect this in their policies

Question 22

What are traditionalists?

Answer 22

Favour a new right view and reject diversity

Question 23

What did Browne find?

Answer 23

Two parent families with children fared badly as a result of the coalitions tax and benefits policies

Question 24

What did Land say?

Answer 24

Argue many social policies assume the ideal family is nuclear

Question 25

What Government policies supported the Patriarchal family?

Answer 25

• Tax and benefits policies (assumes husband will provide)
• childcare (not enough for both parents to work full time)
• care and sick for the elderly (expects family’s to take care of them)

Question 26

What are some criticism’s of the Feminist perspective?

Answer 26

Not all policies are aimed at maintaining the patriarchal family such as allowing Lesbian marriage, equal pay, care for infants etc.

Question 27

What two types of Gender regime’s does Drew identify?

Answer 27

Familistic Gender regimes (policies are based upon traditional gender divisions)
Individualistic Gender regimes (that Husbands and Wives should be treated)

Question 28

What do feminists argue about cut backs in government spending post 2008?

Answer 28

Has led to pressure on women to take more responsibility for caring for family members

Question 29

What has their seen a rise in post 2008 in social policy?

Answer 29

Neo-Liberal policies which pushed for people to use the market over the state to take care of themselves: Eg Private-Pensions