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SOCIAL POLICY + THE FAMILY - Coggle Diagram
SOCIAL POLICY + THE FAMILY
Social Policies
Social Policies refer to laws made by the government which aim to improve society or deal with a social policy
Views on social policies
Fletcher
- Health + education policies have led to the welfare state which supports the family in competing its functions
New Right
- Strong believers that the heterosexual nuclear family is self sufficient
Therefore they believe that social policies have been a negative influence on society promoting family diversity + disintegration of society
Feminism
- See policies as assuming what a 'normal family' is - patriarchal family with male being the breadwinner + female being the homemaker
Therefore, social policies ensure the maintenance of this family type e.g. childcare policies + caring for the elderly
Marxists
- See family policy as a way for the ruling class to maintain their capitalist of society + ensure that the family continues to support capitalism
Types of Social Policy
Providing Material Support for the family, such as, cash benefits through tax credit + child benefits
Helping parents to balance working life + family life
Policies such as maternity pay, early years childcare + child protection laws
Important Policies
Beverage Report (1942)
- Introduced the welfare state, including housing benefit + NHS - this led to the removal of some functions of the family to the welfare state
Divorce Reform Act (1969)
- Made divorce easier to obtain because it allowed women to file for divorce without having to prove adultery, abuse or abandonment - this led to an increase in family diversity, esp single parent + reconstituted families
It also led to an increase in women's independence
Legalisation of the Contraceptive Pill (1967)
- Made it legal for women who were unmarried to obtain the contraceptive pill - this led to women having control over their bodies/how many children they had, this led to a decline in the birth rate
2010 Onwards - Coalition Policies
Aim:
Inconsistent policies on the family due to conflict between two camps of MP'S
Hayton:
Modernists who accept diversity
Traditionalists who favour a New Right view
Examples:
Removed Couples penalty
- removed the fact that members of a couple loose out financially if they begin to live apart
Shared parental leave
Equal Marriage Act
Social Policy Timeline
Conservative Policies - 1980s - 1990s
Aim:
The New Right had a lot of influence during this time so the main aim of policies were to strengthen the traditional nuclear family , emphasising the self help + reliance - reduced welfare payments
Examples:
Established Child Support Agency (1993)
Made illegitimate children have the same rights as those born to wedded parents
Children's Act 1989
Married Men's Tax Allowance
Section 28
Back to Basics
New Labour Policies - 1997-2010
Aim:
Silva + Smart - favoured duel earning families but also emphasises the heterosexual nuclear family + for parents to take responsibility for their children
Some support for alternative family types
Examples:
Parenting Orders
Longer Maternity leave
Working families tax credit
The New Deal
Civil Partnerships - civil partnerships were granted to same sex couple in UK with the rights/responsibilities identical to civil marriage
Unmarried Couples adoption
Sexuality Discrimination laws