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Answer
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Hint
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Jacques Donzelot (1977)
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This Marxist sociologist argued the State can effectively 'police the family', by intervening where they believe the family is not socialising children correctly.
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Nazi Germany (1930s and 1940s)
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In an attempt to breed a 'master race', Nazi policy sought to keep women out of the workforce and confine them to 'children, kitchen and church'. On the other hand, the state compulsorily sterilised 375,000 people they deemed 'unfit' to reproduce. |
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China (until 2016)
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This communist government discouraged couples having more than 1 child in an attempt to control the population. Women had to seek permission to become pregnant, and couples who complied got priority education/healthcare for their child. Those who didn't comply were fined. |
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Patricia Morgan (2007)
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This New Right sociologist stated that the Labour Government's family policy undermined both marriage and the traditional family because: -It was biased towards single parents, dual-earner families and gay people, at the expense of single-earner, two-parent nuclear families. -It replaced individual choice with increased state control in citizens' private lives. |
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Abbott and Wallace (1992)
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These sociologists argue that cutting benefits would simply drive many poor families into even greater poverty and make them even less self-reliant. Not everyone is equally in a position to 'dig themselves out' of tough situations, and sometimes government intervention and help is vital.
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Feminist Perspectives
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This ideological perspective is divided on social policy: -Radical ones believe the State reinforces patriarchal control through introducing policies that are aimed at women in the role of primary carer - for example, child benefits were paid to the mother initially. -Liberal ones would suggest that state policy can be used to change the role of women in society - for example, the 1970 Equal Pay Act, 1969 Divorce Reform Act, 1967 Abortion Act. They would say state policy has helped women in need when leaving violent partners and provided support through benefits to tackle child poverty. |
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Ronald Fletcher (1966)
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This functionalist sociologist argues that the introduction of health, education and housing policies has gradually led to the development of a welfare state that supports the family in performing its functions, and steps in to aid families which are struggling. For example, the NHS means that with the help of doctors, nurses, hospitals and medicines, the family today is better able to take care of its members when they are sick.
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Marxist Perspectives
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This ideological perspective is critical of the role of the state in creating social policy, suggesting that they are designed to serve the needs of the elites in society - for example childcare policies will enable more people to work. State policy is based upon ruling class ideologies and those that do not conform face sanctions.
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Answer
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Hint
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Hilary Land (1978)
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This feminist sociologist argues that social policies often assume that the ideal family is the patriarchal, cereal-packet nuclear family, with a male breadwinner, female homemaker and dependent children. Therefore, social policies reinforce patriarchal roles and relationships. For example: -Tax and benefit policies presume that husbands are the main wage earners, which makes it difficult for wives to claim social security benefits as it is presumed that their husbands will provide for them. This reinforces women's dependency on men. -Childcare falls to women, as although the government pays for some childcare for pre-school children, this is often not enough to allow both parents to work full time unless they can meet the additional costs themselves. Women are often restricted from working (at most working part time) and therefore remain financially dependent on their husbands. -Care for the sick and elderly is often assumed by the government to be carried out by the family. In general, this means it is middle aged women who are expected to do the caring, preventing them from working full time and often retiring early. |
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Philippines
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This is a strong catholic country, which has introduced a series of policies to drive up the birth rate, which has been falling since living standards declined. These include making contraception and abortion illegal. Manilla, the capital, is the world's first 'Pro-life' city. |
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Diana Leonard (1978)
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This feminist sociologist argues that even when social policies appear to benefit women (for example, generous maternity leave) they reinforce the assumption that women are best suited to playing the expressive role, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy which reinforces the traditional nuclear family and segregated conjugal roles as the 'norm'.
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Talcott Parsons (1940s)
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This Functionalist sociologist advocated for reinforcing the nuclear family through social policies, such as tax incentives for married people.
Evaluations of this sociologist: -Functionalists also suggest limited state involvement in the running of the family - this is not necessary if society is functioning correctly. -Traditional values are in opposition to some of the more progressive policies of recent years - such as same-sex marriage. |
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Communist Romania (1980s)
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This communist government introduced a series of policies in the 1980s to try to drive up the birth rate, which had been falling as living standards declined. It restricted contraception and abortion, set up infertility centres, lowered the legal age of marriage to 15, and made childless couples pay an extra 5% income tax. |
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Rachel Condry (2007)
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This sociologist uses the example of compulsory Parenting Orders to demonstrate how parents of young offenders or truants are forced to attend classes to learn the 'correct' way to bring up their children.
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Charles Murray (1990)
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This New Right sociologist criticises many existing policies, arguing they weaken the family's self-reliance by providing too many benefits. He particularly argues welfare benefits offer 'perverse incentives' because they reward irresponsible or anti-social behaviour. For example: -If fathers see that the state will maintain their children, some of them will abandon their responsibilities towards their families. -Providing council housing for unmarried teenage mothers encourages young girls to become pregnant. -The growth of lone parent families (encouraged by generous benefits) means more boys grow up without a male role model and authority figure. This lack of paternal authority is responsible for rising crime rates among young males. |
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Eileen Drew (1995)
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This sociologist describes how social policies in different countries encourage or discourage gender equality: -Familistic gender regimes: base their family policies on the assumption that the woman is responsible for domestic work and childcare. For example, Greece - little state welfare or funded childcare. -Individualistic gender regimes: base family policies on the idea that men and women in families should be treated the same - treat them as separate individuals in the benefit system and also have state provision of childcare, for example, Sweden. |
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