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Topic 7- Family Policy- Functionalism and Donzelot - Coggle Diagram
Topic 7- Family Policy- Functionalism and Donzelot
Functionalism
Sees the state as acting in interest of society and sees policy's as good and helps the family yo perform functions in society
Fletcher: introduction of healthcare, education and housing policies have led to development of a welfare state that supports the family eg NHS means that with medicine the family is better able to care for sick members
Evaluations
Assumes that all members of the family benefit equally whereas feminists argue that policies often benefit the men rather than the women
Assumes that there is a march of progress however Marxists argue that policies can also reverse progress eg cutting welfare benefits to poor families
Donzelot
Conflict view and sees policy as a form of of state power and control over families. He sees power as something that is not just held by the government by spreading through society
Social workers, health visitors and doctors use knowledge to control families and calls this policing of the family
Not targeted equally on social classes poorer families are more likely to be seen as a problem and as the cause of crime. This means that professional target them
Evaluation
Marxists and feminists criticise for failing to identify clearly who benefit from policies for example surveillance social policies generally operate in the intrest of the capitalist class
Families do need a level of monitoring especially social services to protect children
Cross cultural Examples
Chinas one child policy
1970- 2015 the Chinese government population control policy aimed at discouraging couples from having more than one child
Policy was supervised by workplace family planning and women have to seek permission before becoming pregnant
Couples who complied with the policy got extra benefits such as free childcare couples who broke policy had to pay fines
In 2021 this was increased to 3 children amid concern about demographic imbalance