Social Policy - Theory

Functionlaist views on social policy

Consensus

policy is implemented by institutions to act in the interests of society as a whole

EG free NHS relives pressure on family and means people can return to work. Free Childcare means more kids around and parents both in work. Elderly houses and pensions means family are solely responsible

Marxist Views on Social Policy

Conflict

Policies claim to benefit the family but in reality they just uphold ruling class interest and family reproduces workers for capitalism

EG childcare gets parents back into work for B. Help to buy a home scheme ties you down to a mortgage and means you need to continue to work to maintain it. Welfare isn’t enough and is just there to show a ‘caring face’ and inheritance tax thresholds are so high only rich don’t have to pay tax and have money to get lawyers to find loopholes.

Feminist Views on Social Policy (more readical)

Conflict

Policies generally act to maintain patriarchy in families and do little to help and protect women.

EG Child benefit being paid to mother, free childcare is inadequate so have to work part time, social care for elderly is poorly funded adding to triple shift.

Radical feminists say it upholds male dominance and female dependence - domestic abuse refuges and services are poorly funded and prosecution is low. Women still do more housework so policies aren’t that effective

New Right Views on Social Policy

Conflict

Policy is undermining the ideal leading to negative consequences on family - deviant types, blurred distinction of gender roles, dependence on welfare state and more lone parents. Murray says that father’s abandon children and there is an increase in teen pregnancies as society has become to liberal. Policy needs to be less involved for self sufficiency

Donzelot views of Social Policy

Conflict

Policies are a form of state control and power - Foucault says that professional jobs also have this power of surveillance over the family therefore society.

Healthcare, Education and Social Services do this. Condry - parenting orders are where parents blamed for misbehaving kids and have to attend parenting classes. Programmes like the troubled teen programme creates stigma and services always monitor and check up om families.

Govt influence family life through social policy and Donzelot says the policing of the family means that poorer families are on the receiving end (poorest are 10x likely to enter care system)

AO3 = FU

Marxists and Feminists would say that it benefits men and the Bourgeoisie and that contraception and abortion reinforce that the functions of family are outdated.

AO3 = M

Govt do try to implement and have good intentions. They ignore the other work made in other aspects of society. Functionalists would argue it benefits society as a collective.

AO3 = FEM (more liberal)

Drew = families are moving towards more individualistic gender regimes/less assumptions on gender roles - attitudes are changing and more freedom

EG shared parental leave, 30 hrs childcare (dual earner) and 1991 rape in marriage was criminalised. Benefits towards low income lone parent families.

AO3 = NR

Feminists - traps women and is oppressive.

The nuclear family is still the norm and cutting welfare would just lead to more poverty => less stability

AO3 = D

Although harmful in wording the troubled teens programme is a way they are trying to help the family not control it. The policy also helped transform not only the lives of the children but the parents as well.

Direct and Indirect Policies

• 1969 Divorce Law Reform Act

• 2013 Marriage Act

• 1975 Sex Discrimination Act

• 1967 Abortion Act

• 30hrs Free Childcare

• 1975 Child Benefit

• 1967 Family Planning Act

• Educational Policy