social policies

what is a social policy

-anything political proposals which usually turn into acts and often designed to imporve or reform society

relationship between sociologists + policies

-sociologists can do emperical research, which cam them be used to advise govenerments on how to deal with social problems. Their ideological perspectives will influence what they think.

Social democrats

-believe in greater welfare provision + welcome support of the needy + vulnerable

-examples of policies: NHS free healthcare, state pensions + child benefits

problems=expensive + exploited by some

New right

-believe there shoule be individual responsibility + traditional values of nuclear family and people in work providing.

-policies: cap on child benefits, section 28

-problem: doesnt stop other family types, doesnt acknowlege family diversity, creates inequality

Third way thinkers

-believe different family types and range of people exist and want to support people in work so they think there should be a different approach.

-Policies; gat marriage act, free childcare for working parents, expansion of post 16 education + higher education courses

-problems:can be financial costs to gov

should there be a relationship between sociologists and gov? - yes

weber -sociologists should try and influence policy, byt they are academics and not politicians, there job is to provide rigerous, evidence based on research.

should there be a relationship between sociologists + gov? -no

-feminsists and marxists argue that this isnt possible as the problems caused by capitalism/patriarchy, and that fundamental change needs to happen (revolution/seperatism) for there to be any real change.

-radical femisnsts- you should never work with gov as they maintain patriarchy, although changes to maternity rights appear to protect women they just maintain gender roles.

-marxists - services like NHS exist to keep workforce healthy so maintain capatalism.

can sociologists have an affect?

-onlu if popular/vote winner

-only if fits ideological perspective of the political party

-may be hard to have an affect if gov comes up with policy so sociologists just has to research

-social problems not always sociological