topic seven families and social policy Flashcards
the actions of governments can…
have profound effects on families, for e.g. policies
explain the example of China’s one-child policy
- introduced as a method of population control
- supervised by workplace family planning
- couples were incentivised with benefits such as free child healthcare and higher tax allowances
- similarly to restric further childbearing women faced pressure to undergo sterilisation after their first child
- couples who did not comply also faced consequences such as fines
explain Communist Romania’s policies
- introduced in 1980s to increase the birth rate which had been falling due to high living standards
- introduced measures which made it difficult to not have children such as
- restricted contraception and abortion
- lowered the legal marriage age to 15 and
made divorces harder
what do functionalists see society as build on
harmony and a value consensus
what does the state do
act in there interests of society as a whole
how do functionalists see family policies
they help the family perform their functions more effectively to make life better for its members
what does Fletcher argue
the introduction of health, education and housing policies since the industrial revolution has gradually led to the development of the welfare state that supports the family in performing it’s functions effectively, e.g. NHS =family is better ablee to take care of sick members
two criticisms of the functionalist view
- assumes all family members benefit equally, however feminists would argue they serve the interests of the patriarchy
- assumes there is a march of progress where policies are steadily helping hte family improve, but marxists argue that policies can also reverse changes made thus far, e.g. by removing welfare payments to the poor
what is Donzelot’s view of society and therefore family policy
has a conflict view of society and sees policy as a form of state power and control
outline the concept of surveillance
- created by Foucault
- they see power as a force that is disperesed throughout society, not just held by the government
- e.g. professionals such as doctors or social workers exercise their power by treating their clients as ‘cases’ to be dealt with
how does Donzelot use Foucault’s cos for the family and what does he call this
- professionals use their knowledge to control and chnage families - policing of the family
- in particular, surevillance is not carried out equally but rather has a focus on poor families who are seen as problem famillies and as the cause for crime
- e.g. Condry notes the state may seek to control by imposing compulsory Parenting Orders such as parents of deviant children having to attend compulsory parenting classes
therefore…
by highlighting the micro level of how the ‘caring professions’ act as agents of social control, Donzelot criticises the functionalist view
criticise Donzelot
failed to specifically identify who benefits from such policies
what are the New Right strongly in favour of
a traditional nuclear family with a distinct division of labour (expressive and instrumental role)
how do the New Right see the nuclear family
as a naturally self-reliant unit where the members needs are met, expecially there is a successful socialisation of children
how do the New Right view family policies
- have encouraged greater family diversity
- this undermines the nuclear family
- as other family types cannot perform the same functions to the same standard, this produces social problems such as crime and welfare dependency
what does Almond argue
- laws making divorce easier undermine marriage as a lifelong commitment
- the introduction of civil partnerships and marriage since 2014 of gay and lesbian couples portrays the idea that the state no longer sees heterosexual marriage as superior
what has made cohabitation seem similar to marriage
- increased rights for unmarried cohabitants such as adoption rights or succession to pension rights when a partner dies
- sends out a signal marriage is no longer seen as special/better by the state
what does Murray argue
Generous welfare policies can create perverse incentives, potentially contributing to the development of an underclass and an increase in crime rates.
For example, providing council housing to unmarried teenage mothers and cash payments to support lone-parent families may unintentionally encourage patterns of dependency and the formation of deviant or dysfunctional family structures.
what do current policies enourage
a culture of entitlement/dependency culture which threatens:
- the successful socialisation of the young
- the maintenance of the work ethic of men
what is the New Right’s solution
- reduce welfare spening to encourage father to work and provide for their familites
- taxes will also be reduced
- young girl will no longer be incentivised to become pregnant at a young age
- moreover policies which support the nuclear family should be imposed to make the family self reliant again
ultimately,
- the less the state interfere’s in families, the better family life will be as it should be a naturally self reliant unit
how do feminists criticise the NR
- it is an excuse to justify a return to traditional patriarchal nuclear society
- wrongly assumes the nuclear fam is natural
how are the NR’s policies criticised economically
Abbott and Wallace argue cutting benefits would driver poor famlilies into even greater economic suffering instead of making them self-reliant
