Topic 7 - Social Policy Flashcards
What is Social Policy?
Policies used for welfare and social protection
What are some examples of Social Policy in other countries?
China - One child policy
Romania - gave benefits to people with children
Nazi Germany - Restricted access to abortion and contraception to breed the ‘pure race’
What are some examples of Social Policy in Britain?
Free nursery places for 3-4 year old’s
Compulsory education
Maternity/Paternity leave
Child Protection act
How to Functionalists view social policy?
They view them as helping families perform their functions more effectively and improving their lives.
State acts in interests of society
What did Fletcher say? (functionalist)
Introduction of health, education and housing polices has gradually led to development of the welfare state, which supports families.
What are two criticism of Functionalists views?
- Assumes all members of the family benefit equally
- Assumes there is a ‘march of progress’
How does Donzelot view social policy?
As a form of state power and controls families
How do the New-Right view recent social policies?
The greater family diversity caused by these social polices are threatening the conventional family and producing social problems.
What does Almond argue? (new right)
- 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.
How does Murray view welfare policy? (new right)
- It undermines the conventional family and promotes harmful family structures
- They offer perverse incentives that reward irresponsible behavior
What is a New Right criticism of current Social Policy?
It threatens:
- the successful socialization of the young
- the maintenance of the work ethic among men
What is the New Rights ‘solution’?
Cut welfare spending and tighter restrictions on who is eligible
How do feminists criticize the New Right view?
Its an attempt to go back to patriarchal nuclear family
How do Abbott and Wallace criticize the new right view?
It will drive poor people further into poverty making them less self reliant
Who banned the promotion of homosexuality?
Conservative - Margert Thatcher
What did both New Labour and Conservatives emphasize?
The need for parents to take responsibility for their children
Introduced parenting orders for parents of young offenders
What did Carol Smart say?
New labour reject the new right idea that family should have a male breadwinner
What type of families did new labour polices favour?
Dual earner neo-conventional family
What are some New Labour polices that promote dual earner families?
- Longer maternity leave
- working tax credit
How did Labour support alternatives to the nuclear family?
- civil partnerships
- giving unmarried couples the same rights to adopt as married couples
- outlawing discrimination based on sexuality
What are modernisers?
Recognise that families are diverse and reflect this in their policies
What are traditionalists?
Favour a new right view and reject diversity
What did Browne find?
Two parent families with children fared badly as a result of the coalitions tax and benefits policies
What did Land say?
Argue many social policies assume the ideal family is nuclear
What Government policies supported the Patriarchal family?
- 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)
What are some criticism’s of the Feminist perspective?
Not all policies are aimed at maintaining the patriarchal family such as allowing Lesbian marriage, equal pay, care for infants etc.
What two types of Gender regime’s does Drew identify?
Familistic Gender regimes (policies are based upon traditional gender divisions)
Individualistic Gender regimes (that Husbands and Wives should be treated)
What do feminists argue about cut backs in government spending post 2008?
Has led to pressure on women to take more responsibility for caring for family members
What has their seen a rise in post 2008 in social policy?
Neo-Liberal policies which pushed for people to use the market over the state to take care of themselves: Eg Private-Pensions
