sociological perspectives on social policy

what is the functionalist view

• it helps society function effectively

• the state acts in the interests of society- the government are always working in our favour (e.g. VAT on private schools)

• it helps the family perform its intended function

Fletcher (functionalist) view

• education, healthcare and housing policies introduced since the industrial revolution are positive

• the family helps to care for its members and is helped by the NHS

• government policy→helps a part of society function→positive outcome

• e.g. NHS(policy)→people receive healthcare(function)→healthy, functioning members of society(outcome)

what are the criticisms of the functionalist perspective

• Oakley (feminist)- it does not benefit everyone, it benefits the patriarchy and men at the expense of women

• e.g. when they extended the parental leave by 3 months but it’s unpaid (gender SFP- women need to be at home)

• Marxists- it protects the interest of the bourgeoisie

• Wallace- there are times when the government cut benefits and public services such as the NHS

what is Donzelots view

• policies are a form of state power and family control

• professionals like doctors and social workers use their expert knowledge as power which can control and force change into families (e.g. diagnosis and medication)

what are the criticisms of donzelot

• feminists- he fails to acknowledge that women are the most likely to be controlled/monitored

what is Condrys view and Foucalts view

• Condry- patenting orders give the state too much power over patents

• Foucalt- corceral archipelago (meaning prison islands)

• he says that society is a set of islands (e.g. school, state, work, police doctors) that surround and control you

what is the new right view

• Charles Murray- the key contributor to outcomes like income and achievement is intelligence rather than parental income/background. children are best raised in a nuclear family ‘family is the cornerstone of society’

• underclass- the class below the WC who relied on benefits (welfare dependent) and are mostly lone parents which was been brought on by social policy (this creates a perverse incentive)

• welfare has created problems not solved them

• it is relevant today in relation to Starmers gov who will tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payments

what are the criticisms of the new right

• feminism- nuclear family encouraged would cause the return of the housewife stereotype

• cutting benefits would lead to greater poverty- 38% of claimants work so is the issue actually wages?

• his ideas are outdated

• Macdonald- studied deprived areas and found very little evidence of generational worklessness and where he did find it, they felt stuck and depressed

what is the feminist perspective

• sometimes it promotes patriarchy but on occasion it can be beneficial to women (e.g. equal pay act, clare’s law, and the 30 hours of free childcare per week)

• it was good as it enables women to work and reduces childcare costs BUT women are still not fully supported (as the time given is not equal to the time spent at a full time job), it is only offered in term time and the nursery price spikes too due to this

what are the criticisms of feminism

• too focused on trying to ‘find the patriarchy’

• PLP- many women don’t have children so it doesn’t apply