Sociology and social policy

• functionalism perspective on social policy

  • e.g Durkheim, purpose of sociology is to be able to analyse social issues and provide solutions. however later functionalists thought there should be less intervention
  • want slow considered voted movement e.g gay marriage
• Marxism on social policy

  • suspicious of role of state in maintaining the status of ruling class at expense of working class, despite believing sociology should change society
• feminism of social policy

  • Radical- social policy serves to reinforce traditional gender roles and patriarchy e.g maternity leave
  • liberal- use existing structures to make positive, gradual changes for women e.g equality act 2010, Sally Challen (10 years in prison, 10 years fighting/media attention then law passed (coercive control)
• new right on social policy

  • intervention should be minimal in the lives of individuals and the economy (e.g Murray says benefits encourage 'perverse incentives'
  • however promotion of traditional conservative social policy has impacted society e.g national curriculum/marketisation and welfare cuts
• why sociology cant inform social policy-clash of ideas

  • critical approaches e.g Marxism often clash with moderate and conservative ideology
• why sociology cant inform social policy-costs

  • sociologists 'ideal solutions' may not be practical e.g Black report (examined health inequalities) solutions too costly to implement
• why sociology cant inform social policy-methodologies

  • interpretivist method are often too small scale to be implemented by governments that look for big impact policies to ensure public support
• why sociology cant inform social policy-think tanks

  • government policy often influenced by groups of experts/specific bodies that propose ideas for social policies e.g Joseph Rowntree foundation
  • but cant trust they are neutral e.g Center for social justice (right wing), institute for public policy (left wing)
• Giddens' 4 reasons sociology is important

  1. to understand society better (Townsends study of poverty raised awareness and led directly to introduction of the minimum wage)
  2. increase awareness of cultural differences (understand marginalized groups)
  3. increase our self knowledge
  4. assess government policies (criticize, support or campaign against/for them
• who suggested the 4 reasons sociology is important

  Giddens
• 4 reasons sociology can't inform social policy

  1. clash of ideas
  2. cost
  3. methodologies
  4. think tanks