Social policy

• What does social policy refer to?

  Plans and actions of state agencies
• How are social policies typically established?

  Based on laws introduced by government
• What is an example of a social policy affecting families?

  Laws governing marriage and divorce
• How does compulsory education policy affect families?

  Enables parents to work while children are in school
• What are some cross-cultural examples of family policy impacts?

  1. China's 1 child policy
  2. Communist Romania's birth rate policies
  3. Nazi Germany's family policies
• What was the aim of China's 1 child policy?

  Discourage couples from having more than one child
• What benefits do couples receive for complying with China's 1 child policy?

  Free child healthcare and higher tax allowances
• What consequences do couples face for breaking China's 1 child policy?

  Repay allowances and pay a fine
• What policies did Communist Romania implement to increase birth rates?

  Restricted contraception and abortion
• What was the legal marriage age in Communist Romania?

  15 years old
• What was one aspect of Nazi family policy in the 1930s?

  Encouraged breeding of a master race
• What did Nazi Germany do to disabled individuals under their family policy?

  Compulsorily sterilised 375,000 disabled people
• What is the functionalist perspective on family policies?

  • Society is built on harmony and consensus
  • Policies help families perform functions effectively
  • Support for the welfare state development
• What criticism do feminists have of functionalist views on family policies?

  Policies often benefit men at women's expense
• What does Donzelot argue about social policy?

  It is a form of state power and control
• What concept does Donzelot use to describe state control over families?

  Foucault's concept of surveillance
• How does Donzelot view the targeting of poor families?

  They are seen as 'problem' families
• What is the New Right's view on family structure?

  Strongly favor the traditional nuclear family
• What does Charles Murray criticize about welfare policy?

  It encourages deviant family types
• What do New Right advocates believe about state intervention in families?

  Less state interference leads to better family life
• What are the New Right's proposed solutions to family issues?

  • Cuts in welfare spending
  • Tighter restrictions on benefits eligibility
  • Encourage self-reliance over state dependence
• What was one policy introduced by New Labour to support families?

  Longer maternity leave
• How did New Labour's policies differ from the New Right's view on family?

  Recognized dual-earner families
• What did Thatcher's Conservative government do regarding homosexuality?

  Banned promotion by local authorities
• What was the Coalition government's stance on family diversity?

  Divided between modernisers and traditionalists
• How do individualistic gender regimes differ from familistic ones?

  Husbands and wives treated equally
• What policies support gender equality in individualistic regimes?

  Equal opportunities and state provision of childcare
• What characterizes familistic gender regimes?

  Traditional gender division between roles
• What are the two types of gender regimes identified by Drew?

  1. Familistic gender regimes
  2. Individualistic gender regimes