sociology&social policy

• what are social policies?


  -plans, actions, laws

  -put in place by the government

  -try to improve society / tackle social issues
• social problem


  -behaviour that causes public friction

  -normally results in call for action

  > gender inequality

  > poverty
• sociological problem


  -any pattern of relationships that calls for sociological explanation

  > gender differences in behaviour
• should sociology inform social policy? - Worsley 


  -sociology isn't always connected to social issues

  -can therefore exist without the presence of informing social policy
• should sociology inform social policy? - Brewer


  -duty to address social problems

  -should inform social policy
• what factors might affect the relationship between social policy & sociology?


  -cost > government may not have sufficient funds to implement policies

  -electoral popularity > sociological research only likely used if policies would be popular

  -critical sociology > sociologists critical of state & powerful groups are too extreme

  -ideological & policy preferences > if researcher's values similar to political ideology of government, more likely to influence policies
• positivism & functionalism view on social policy


  -sociologists could influence social policy by revealing social facts

  -SP can improve lives

  -tackle one issue at a time with 'piecemeal approach'
• application of positivism & functionalism view on social policy


  -Durkheim proposed meritocratic education system > fairer society improving social cohesion

  -housing & family policies help families perform function
• Marxist criticism of positivist & functionalist view on social policy


  -criticise piecemeal approach

  > tackling one issue at a time isn't best way to improve society

  > many of the smaller issues are caused by larger structural factors
• what's the social democratic view on social policy?


  -similar to Marxism

  -more optimistic and believes western governments can be a force of good

  -want more equal society

  -unlike Marxists, believe sociological research can help government create policies to reduce inequality
• social democratic view on SP - The Black Report AO2


  -highlights many extreme social class inequalities in Britain

  -policy recommendations :

  > free school meals

  > improved working conditions

  > better benefits for disabled

  > increased spending on housing
• Marxist criticism of social democrat view on SP


  -capitalism needs to be overthrown before these are resolved

  -Black Report policies aren't enough to solve problem

  -state unlikely to introduce costly public spending that benefits working class
• Marxist view on social policy


  -SP only serves interests of bourgeoisie

  -legitimises capitalist ideology

  > welfare state masks capitalism by giving it a 'caring face'

  -healthcare services maintain labour force for further exploitation

  > NHS keeps workers fit enough to work into old age
• evidence supporting Marxist view from Black Report (AO3)


  -commissioned under Labour government

  -was finished under Thatcher's rule

  -Conservatives didn't implement policies and tried to stop publishing

  > supports Marxist view that policies won't come into effect if dont serve bourgeoisie
• Social Democrats criticism of Marxist view on SP

  -SP do help working class (benefits, free school meals)

  -they're not just a caring face

  -to say sociologists should criticise all capitalist social policy is impractical & unrealistic
• liberal feminism view on social policy


  -sociological research can influence governments to create laws

  > reducing inequality
• examples of social policies reducing inequality - liberal feminism 


  -national curriculum

  -GIST / WISE

  -equal pay act
• criticisms of liberal feminism view on social policy


  -too optimistic, more extreme changes needed

  -Marxist & Radical feminists call for more far-reaching changes
• radical feminism view of social policy


  -state perpetuates women's subordination through social policy