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Theory and Methods - Debates - Sociology and social policy - flashcards…
Theory and Methods - Debates - Sociology and social policy - flashcards done
Feminists x
Similar to
Marxists
, feminists see
society as based on conflict between genders.
Society is patriarchal benefiting man and
state policies perpetuate women's oppression
For example,
family policies
may be based on the assumption of the
conventional heterosexual nuclear family
, offering this family type
more benefits
for married couples and not to cohabitation ones.
Feminists research has influences social policies through:
learning material that promote positive images of females
teacher training to promote inclusiveness for both sexes
Radical feminist
favour
separatism
- one area of social policy tat reflects this view is the establishment of
women's refuges
for women escaping domestic violence
overall, it is clear that feminist sociological research has had
some impact on social policies
, due to the feminists movement of the 1970s.
However
many feminists
reject the view that reformist social policies can liberate women
, radical feminists call for more ext ream changes that the state cannot deliver.
Liberal feminists
Betty Friedan
sociologists should try to influence social policy. She points to legislation as evidence of Liberal feminism influencing social policy in Britain
Marxists x
according to Marxists, the
state represents the RC
, and its
social policies serve the interests of capitalism
not those of society as a whole.
social policies serve the interest of capitalism in 3 ways
SP provide ideological legitimisation
- SP mask capitalist exploitation (e.g. the welfare state makes it appear that the system cares about the poor)
SP maintain the labour force for further exploitation
: NHS serves the needs of capitalism by keeping workers fit to go back to work.
SP are a means of preventing a revolution
: SP can be used when class conflict intensifies as a way of settling the masses.
therefore according to Marxists, the
sociologists main role
is to
criticise capitalist social policy
and
reveal the exploitation that underpins capitalism.
Evaluation x
Social democrats, criticise Marx
, arguing that sociological research can help bring about
progressive policies within the existing capitalism system.
Westergaard and Resler x
against making social policy recommendations on welfare
. They believe that if sociologists such as Townsend encourage more benefits this will only serve to
reduce class solidarity
welfare
'buys off'
the W/C and
prevents them from realising their true class interests.
social problems faced by the W/C can
only be overcome through proletarian revolution,
not social policy, whose end aim would be to create a
communist society
,
Positivism and Functionalism x
Durkheim and Comte x
early positivists - argued that sociology was a
science
: which would discover both the
cause
of social problems and
scientific solutions
to solve them
therefore their approach was part of the Enlightenment project to use science 7 reason to improve society
functionalists see society as based on
Value consensus and free from fundamental conflicts x
similar to positivists, they see society as serving the interests of society as a whole -
producing and implementing policies for the good of all.
these policies
help society to run more smoothly and efficiently
. For example, educational policies are seen as
promoting equal opportunities
- health and housing policies
assist the family
in performing its functions more effectively.
functionalists take a 'piecemeal approach' by tackling one specific issue at a time.
evaluation x
'the piecemeal approach; has been criticised.
Marxists
argue that educational policies aimed at equal opportunities for children of different classes are often
defeated by wider social influences such as poverty
New Right x
according to the NR, state intervention/policies on areas such as:
family life, income support, education and health care
take away people's
freedom
to make their own choices and
undermines
their sense of
responsibility
Murray x
generous welfare benefits and council housing offers lone parents
perverse incentives
that weaken the
family's self-reliance
(ability to support themselves)
SP encourages a
dependency culture, an underclass of lone mothers, undisciplined children, and irresponsible fathers
Evaluation x
the NR are critical of many SP, the role of the sociologist is to
propose alternative policies,
where the aim is to
restore individual's responsibility
for their own families
Social Democratic x
share the view that we need to
change the basic structure of society in order to solve specific problems
- main proposal to do this is through
redistributing wealth
Townsend x
sociologists should be involved in
researching social problems
and making
policy recommendations to eradicate them
For example, on the basis of his research findings he made
recommendations for policies
such as fairer, higher benefit levels and more public spending on
health, education and welfare services
Evaluation x
Marxists
criticise the SDP, they do
agree
that social inequalities are
deep-rooted
, however they
reject the idea that policies are enough to solve the problem
For
Marxists
, capitalism is ultimately responsible for these inequalities and so the
problem cannot be solved without abolishing capitalism.
postmodernists
- criticise attempts by sociologists to influence policy due to their belief that all knowledge produced by research is
only a version of the truth
and therefore is
not a satisfactory basis for policy
.
The Black Report x
identified a range of
cultural and structural causes of inequalities in health
. The Black Report strongly argued for
structural/material solutions to reduce the health divide
. They believed that the top priority of governments should be to tackle poverty and low income
Postmodernism x
aren't really interest in social policy, however they do support policies that represent diversity and choices.
late modernists
- believe that social policies need to adapt constantly to globalisation
sociologists are in no position to make social policy recommendations
it is
not possible to objectively identify the truth
and therefore all sociological knowledge is
'uncertain'.
Therefore, there is no valid basis for sociological policy intervention
Bauman x
in 'postmodern times' sociologists should merely take the
role of 'interpreters'
and cannot, and should not, be seen as
'legislator',
as they did in 'modernists times'
Sociology, social policy and social problem x
Worsley x
a social policy is a
plan or action
of
national and local government
agencies which aims to
improve or reform society
.
government provides services to
reduce social problems
, there often include the implementation of social policies.
sociology has made contributions to the formation of social policies adopted by national and local government agencies.
the government does not always pay attention yo sociological research
Denis - prostitution x
the extent of abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking is
nowhere near at the level originally quoted
by former Foreign Office minister, Denis MacShane, of 25,000 sex slaves in the UK
only
22 people (4%) were finally prosecuted
for trafficking, seven if which were eventually acquitted
this is
evidence of a moral panic,
as after all these efforts a total of only
15 men and were were prosecuted of trafficking offence.
factors that will influence whether or not sociological research will succeed in influencing policy x
electoral popularity - must influential factor
ideological and policy preferences of gov
interest groups
globalisation
critical sociology
cost
funding sources
Left Realism x
Lea and Young x
have used the results of local victim surveys to put forward a range of
piratical solutions to reduce crime
. They claim that
state intervention and community involvement are essential
to halt the spread in crime
For example,
they have encouraged closer
partnerships
between the
police and local communities
. They also make a strong case for
fewer custodial sentences
and more
community service orders.