FAMILIES social policy

direct policies

policies that affect family directly

what are examples of direct policies

• divorce laws

• adoption

indirect policies

policies affecting family indirectly

what are examples of indirect policies

• compulsory education

what are the two types of social policy

• direct

• indirect

6 views surrounding social policy

• functionalism

• marxism

• feminism

• new right

• new labour government

• coalition

who positively views social policy

• functionalism

• new labour

who negatively views social policy

• new right

• marxism

• feminism

functionalist view

• policy is good for all

• help family effectively perform functions

functionalist theorist

fletcher

fletcher

• policies such as free NHS, compulsory education and housing policies all help family take better care of its members

marxism view

• doesn’t benefit everyone equally

• eg. low level of state pension

• policies support capitalism

althusser

• policies part of ISA

• maintain false class consciousness

• suggest capitalism has a friendly face to try convince them society is equal eg minimum wage

• any improvements for WC families has only been won by class struggle

marxist theoriests

• althusser

feminist view

• policies assume family is patriarchal

feminists social policy

• universal child benefit- paid to women

• custody laws- often given to women

• maternity leave- mat leave is more generous then pat leave

• childcare, school timetables - prevents women from working full time

liberal feminist view of policy

• legislation and changing of law is key eg. equal pay act, equality act

• benefits for lone parents

• equalising grounds for divorce

new right view

• the less the government interfere the better

• linked to conservative party

• family should be based on nuclear family

• all other family arrangements are deviant and lead to inadequate socialsation

• policies are against family diversity

new right theorists

• murray

• dennis and erdos

murray

• family diversity creates welfare dependancy - ‘welfare scroungers’

• results in underclass - long term unemployment

• encourages dysfunctional family types

dennis and erdos

• one of family’s biggest issues are fatherless families

• effects socialisation

new right policies

• child support agency- absent parents have to take responsiblity, discourages family type outside of nuclear

• community care- done by family members

• marriage tax breaks- promotes importance of marriage

new labour

• nuclear family is ideal type but other types can also work

• policies support nuclear family and other family types

new labour policies

• maternity leave has increased time

• paternity leave introduced

• new deal helps single parents return to employment

• civil partnerships for same sex couples

• unmarried couples and same sex families have same right to adoption

• abolished clause 28

leach

• new labour criticism

• cereal packet family is still at forefront

coalition government

• no consistent line

• introduced gay marriage

• shared maternity leave

• focus on public spending