Policies

Examples of social policy (real life)

China’s one child policy and Nazi Germany’s policies.

Functionalist sociologist on social policy

FLETCHER: states that the introduction of health, education and housing policies in the years since the industrial revolution has gradually led to the development of the welfare state that supports the family in performing its functions more effectively (eg. the introduction of the NHS means that families can take better care of sick members when they are ill).

New Right sociologist on social policy

Murray argues that the state is providing overly generous welfare benefits. This is because these policies offer ‘perverse incentives’, meaning that the state rewards people for irresponsible or antisocial behaviour.

Feminist on social policy

Leonard argues that even where policies seem to support women (eg. childcare so the woman can go to work), they still reinforce the patriarchal family and act as a form of social control over women. For example, although maternity leave policies benefit women, it reinforces patriarchy, because the terms of paternity leave are less generous, implying that women are the natural carers.

how does funding sources affect sociological research?

-they may have to adjust or tone down their findings to suit the paymasters wishes
-policymakers may recruit sociologists who ahre their assumptions and political values. This may just justify what the policy makers intended to do in the first place

What is the functionalist/ positivist view on social policy?

-as sociology is a science we could find scientific solutions to problems
- its the role of sociologist's to give the state objective scientific info to implement policy

Examples of social policies:

• education reforms

• welfare policies

• health and housing initiatives

• laws on crime and justice

What is a social problem? (Worsley)

• Issues in society that cause personal troubles or public conflict

  • E.g., poverty, domestic violence, educational failure, and crime

What is a sociological problem? (Worsley)

• Any pattern or behaviour in society that sociologists want to study, whether or not it is seen as a 'problem', e.g.,

  • why people follow religion

  • why working-class children underachieve

  • why some groups commit more crime than others

• Researchers aim to increase our understanding of society, not always to solve problems through policy