Topic 7: Social Policy

Question 1

1942 The Beveridge Report

Answer 1

Provided social policy for post-war Britain and highlighted the social inequalities.

Question 2

1969 Divorce Reform Act

Answer 2

Allowed divorce to become easier for unhappy couples. ‘No fault’ was introduced.

Question 3

1975 Sex Discrimination Act

Answer 3

Stops any kind of sex discrimination and promotes equality

Question 4

1970 Equal Pay Act

Answer 4

Ensures men and women get paid equally.

Question 5

What laws did the Conservative government introduce?

Answer 5

Section 28
Child Support Agency
Married Tax Allowance

Question 6

Section 28

Answer 6

Banned the teaching of alternative family types

Question 7

Child Support Agency

Answer 7

This was created to enforce maintenance payments by absent couples

Question 8

Married Tax Allowance

Answer 8

Reduce your tax bill each you’re married.

Question 9

What laws did the New Labour government introduce

Answer 9

The New Deal for Lone Parents
Adoption and Children’s Act
Civil Partnership Act

Question 10

The New Deal for Lone Parents

Answer 10

Aimed at all lone parents on income support not in work or working less than 16 hours a week

Question 11

Adoption and Children’s Act

Answer 11

Allows unmarried, married or same-sex marriages to adopt in the UK.

Question 12

Civil Partnerships Act

Answer 12

Same-sex couples can register for a civil partnership which has the same obligations as a marriage.

Question 13

What laws did the Coalition government introduce

Answer 13

Same Sex Marriage Act
Universal Credit
The Troubled Families Programme

Question 14

Same Sex Marriage Act

Answer 14

This makes marriage for same sex couples lawful

Question 15

Universal Credit

Answer 15

A payment that helps with living costs and is paid weekly by DWP. (Department of Working Pension)

Question 16

The Troubled Families Programme

Answer 16

Supports families with mutiple and complex needs by joining up local services.

Question 17

What laws did the Conservative government introduce (2015 onwards)

Answer 17

Furlough scheme
Lockdown measures
Cost of living crisis

Question 18

Furlough scheme

Answer 18

A scheme where someone is working reduced hours rather than stopping completely

Question 19

Lockdown measures

Answer 19

Different policies were put into place to keep people safe during COVID-19

Question 20

Cost of living crisis

Answer 20

Money was given to households in need and paying winter fuel payments

Question 21

Fletcher

Answer 21

Functionalist view
Introduction to policies of health, education and housing allows families to perform its functions more effectively.

Question 22

Strengths of the Functionalist view

Answer 22

Policies help families fulfil the family function
Helps society stay stable

Question 23

Limitations of the Functionalist view

Answer 23

It assumes all groups of people benefit from social policies
Marxists and Feminists argue that there isn’t a march of progress view

Question 24

New Right view on policies

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Limitations of the New Right view

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Donzelot

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Limitations of Donzelot

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

What is the Marxist view on policies

Answer 28

The state and its policies serve capitalism

Question 29

Limitations of the Marxist view

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

What is the feminist view on policies

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Liberal feminist view

Answer 31

They notice that there have been changes and laws put in place to help women. E.g: Equal Pay Act and Sex Discrimination Act.

Question 32

Famililistic gender regimes

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Individualistic gender regimes

Answer 33

Based on the belief that husbands and wives should be treated equally.