Topic 7: Social Policy Flashcards
1942 The Beveridge Report
Provided social policy for post-war Britain and highlighted the social inequalities.
1969 Divorce Reform Act
Allowed divorce to become easier for unhappy couples. ‘No fault’ was introduced.
1975 Sex Discrimination Act
Stops any kind of sex discrimination and promotes equality
1970 Equal Pay Act
Ensures men and women get paid equally.
What laws did the Conservative government introduce?
Section 28
Child Support Agency
Married Tax Allowance
Section 28
Banned the teaching of alternative family types
Child Support Agency
This was created to enforce maintenance payments by absent couples
Married Tax Allowance
Reduce your tax bill each you’re married.
What laws did the New Labour government introduce
The New Deal for Lone Parents
Adoption and Children’s Act
Civil Partnership Act
The New Deal for Lone Parents
Aimed at all lone parents on income support not in work or working less than 16 hours a week
Adoption and Children’s Act
Allows unmarried, married or same-sex marriages to adopt in the UK.
Civil Partnerships Act
Same-sex couples can register for a civil partnership which has the same obligations as a marriage.
What laws did the Coalition government introduce
Same Sex Marriage Act
Universal Credit
The Troubled Families Programme
Same Sex Marriage Act
This makes marriage for same sex couples lawful
Universal Credit
A payment that helps with living costs and is paid weekly by DWP. (Department of Working Pension)
The Troubled Families Programme
Supports families with mutiple and complex needs by joining up local services.
What laws did the Conservative government introduce (2015 onwards)
Furlough scheme
Lockdown measures
Cost of living crisis
Furlough scheme
A scheme where someone is working reduced hours rather than stopping completely
Lockdown measures
Different policies were put into place to keep people safe during COVID-19
Cost of living crisis
Money was given to households in need and paying winter fuel payments
Fletcher
Functionalist view
Introduction to policies of health, education and housing allows families to perform its functions more effectively.
Strengths of the Functionalist view
Policies help families fulfil the family function
Helps society stay stable
Limitations of the Functionalist view
It assumes all groups of people benefit from social policies
Marxists and Feminists argue that there isn’t a march of progress view
New Right view on policies
Governments weaken the family by providing generous welfare benefits
The dependence on the state threatens two essential functions which are successful socialisation and maintenance of work ethic among young men
Limitations of the New Right view
Feminists argue that it is an attempt to go back to the traditional nuclear family which is patriarchal and subordinated women.
Abbott and Wallace: cutting benefits will simply drive poor families into greater poverty
Assumes that the patriarchal nuclear family is natural rather than socially constructed.
Donzelot
Sees policies as a form of surveillance and control over families
Professionals like doctors and social workers can hold knowledge and power over their clients.
Limitations of Donzelot
Rejects the Functionalist ‘march of progress’ view. Instead he argues that policies are a form of control over families
He fails to acknowledge that some people benefit from policies of surveillance.
What is the Marxist view on policies
The state and its policies serve capitalism
Limitations of the Marxist view
They do not accept that there is a march of progress view. There have been improvements for working class like pensions and free healthcare
Policies in place are a facade showing the caring face of capitalism. Keeps people in false class consciousness.
What is the feminist view on policies
Land: See society as patriarchal and laws assume that the nuclear family is the ideal family.
Many policies discourage alternative family types (Section 28)
Leonard: Even when policies support women, they still reinforce patriarchy in the family.
Liberal feminist view
They notice that there have been changes and laws put in place to help women. E.g: Equal Pay Act and Sex Discrimination Act.
Famililistic gender regimes
Base their family policies on the assumption that the husbands work to support the family while the wife stays home being reposonsible for domestic work
Individualistic gender regimes
Based on the belief that husbands and wives should be treated equally.
