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Social policy in Family, Key: Cyan>creates diversity - Coggle Diagram
Social policy in Family
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Functionalism
Fletcher
Argues that the introduction of the welfare state and policies such as Free NHS, compulsory education and housing policies all help families to take better care for its members. Policies therefore can support families.
EV: Assumes that all family members benefit equally from policies, which Feminists would dispute. Also assumes that policy makes family life better, which Marxists would dispute as some policies like cutting benefits disadvantage the w/c
Donzelot
Sees policy as a form of state control over families, with social workers, doctors and teachers using their knowledge to control and change families.
Marxism
Conflict view. Marxists don't see policy as benefitting all members of society equally and believe instead that the state and its policies support capitalism. Marxist argue that this is evidence that once workers are too old to produce profits, that they are simply being 'maintained at the lowest possible cost'. Argue that policies like the pension work ideologically (despite appearing beneficial to w/c) they are in fact convincing the w/c that society is fair and distracting them from the exploitation that they experience in the capitalist system. They also argue that any improvements for w/c families such as access to free health care, have only been won through class struggle.
Althusser
Argues that these policies are part of an ideological state apparatus which maintains false class consciousness, by suggesting that capitalism has a 'friendly face' (ex. having a min. wage)
Feminism
Liberal
Argues that legislation and changing of law is key in being able to create levels of gender equality
Wollstonecraft
Fought for policies to redress gender inequality. As a result, a number of policies have been introduced to promote gender equality including:
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Radical
Social policies assumes that family is patriarchal. Although policies appear to support women they still reinforce a patriarchal family and act as a form of social control. Some policies do not support female independence so women find it hard to work full time and also be mothers for ex. with childcare. Gov.t pays for some childcare but it's not enough to permit parents to work full time unless they can meet additional costs themselves. Also policies governing school timetables and holidays makes it hard for parents to work full time. Also governing policies often assume the family will provide care for the elderly and disabled which often falls to middle aged women within family which prevents them from working.
Firestone
Argues that social policies often assume that the ideal family is patriarchal - with male provider and female home maker
Leonard
Argues where policies appear to support women, they may still reinforce the patriarchal family and act as a form of social control
New Right
Family must be nuclear, family is the building blocks of society, separates roles performed by men and women determined by biology are essential for stability of society and two parents and discipline are needed for socialisation. All other family arrangements are deviant and increasing diversity produces social problems like crime and welfare dependency. They stress the importance of law and order plus personal freedom and responsibility. They're concerned about family diversity and believe it creates welfare dependency, 'scrounger' and rise of the 'underclass'. They're very critical of single mothers and illegitimate children as they believe families are more likely to rely on benefits. They support policies that reduce state involvement to avoid dependency, promote nuclear family.
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EV: Feminists see the NR as a form of patriarchy and attacks of single parent families imply that a women's place is home. Argue that NR portray single mothers and same sex couples as dangerous to normal society. Also many critics argue that tory policies have harmed the family rathe than help them. Marxists argue that poverty and inequality are not the fault of the individual but the result of social structure,
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Murray
Believes that benefits/council housing etc. encourages dysfunctional family types, as they offer 'perverse incentives', rewarding irresponsible or anti-social behaviour and discouraging society to uphold moral value.
Dennis and Erdos
Argue that one of society's biggest issue are fatherless families, as women are unable to socialise children effectively, young boys are growing up without a role model and therefore don't learn how to be effective fathers, creating a cycle of young males who are inadequately socialised.
New Labour
Promote a 'middle way' that united right and left wing views. Both left and right see the family as the basis of society and believe family needs to be headed by a married, heterosexual couples but reject that nuclear is the only acceptable form or
that male should be the breadwinner. They place a strong emphasis on nuclear family but recognise social changes and policies cannot pretend everyone still lives in a nuclear family. They recognise that households have 2 earners and that mums don't stay home long term to care for kids.
EV: Feminists argue that preference for nuclear family is patriarchal and that cereal packet family is still at the forefront of policy: reflecting NR policies too much. NR says it promotes too much diversity.
Policy explained
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Giving unmarried couples and same sex couples some rights to adopt - promotes equality and outlaws discrimination on grounds of sexuality
Coalition
Found it difficult to take a consistent line on policy, for ex. Tories introduced legalisation of gay marriage which is traditionally opposed by the NR. Also introduced the sharing of mat leave, so males were entitled to be main carer of kids.
EV: Coalition policies focused on austerity policies, which centred cutting public spending
Postmodernism
Beck
Argues we are in a new era with increasing choice and diversity. Postmodernist theorists support increasing family diversity, as they emphasise that families should be shaped by the need and wishes of the individual.
Stacey
Argues social policy should reflect individualisation thesis and allow for choice hence supporting policies such as Divorce reform act which allow individuals to create new type of families such as the 'divorce extended family'.
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