Functionalist perspective on families and the application of this to social policy

View of society and the state

• Built on harmony and shared value consensus

• State acts in interests of society as a whole

Function of social policies

• Good for all

  • Help families perform their functions more effectively

  • Make life better for all family members

Fletcher (1966) - post-industrial development of the welfare state - role of the NHS

• Helps family in the role of taking care of sick members

Fletcher (1966) - post-industrial development of the welfare state - role of state childcare/education

• Helps family in role of primary and secondary socialisation

Fletcher (1966) - post-industrial development of the welfare state - role of social housing

• Helps family in role of meeting member’s basic needs

CRITICISM of functionalist perspective - feminism

• Asssumes all members benefit equally, when in fact policies benefit men at the expense of women

  • E.g. child benefit being paid to the mother

CRITICISM of functionalist perspective - Marxism

• Assumes welfare policies are a MoP when in fact they can reverse previous progress

  • E.g. cutting welfare for poor families

CRITICISM of functionalist perspective - Donzelot (1977)

• Policy is a form of state control over families