Family : Changes in Childhood - Changes in Law and Policy

• Changes to Law and Social Policy

  Equal Pay Act 1970 / Equality Act 2010

  Sex Discrimination Act 1975-

  Allowed women to have the same employment rights as men; amended to include transgender and equality

  This created more equality. the family as the women could now go our to work and take the instrumental role in the same way a man could. This could explain the rise in divorce, rise in single parent families, discrime in

  (traditional gender roles in the nuclear family, support for feminism and criticism of Marxist feminist Benston.
• Changes to Law and Social Policy

  Divorce Law Reform Act 1969-

  Allowed easier and quicker divorces; allowed women to instigate divorce without needing to provide evidence of adultery or cruelty; changed the social norm of marriage for life. This allowed unhappy couples to split which would account for the rise in divorce and single parent families.
• Changes to Law and Social Policy

  Divorce Reform Act 1969-

  It can also be used when explaining the dark side of family - victims of domestic abuse can now leave the marriage. This would also support feminist views that women no longer needed men and postmodern views that we are no longer tied to tradition or religious views.
• Changes to Law and Social Policy

  Abortion Act 1961-

  Contraception available to married women 1961, allowed women to control the size of their family. Decreased the control of the church on family life.
• Changes in Law and Social Policies

  Abortion Act 1961-

  This allowed women to choose when to have children which resulted in more freedom and equality - this criticises Engels view that women are there to produce heirs, Murdock's views that the main function of the traditional nuclear family is to reproduce and Greer's views that the woman's bodies are exploited for reproduction. This also shows how society was becoming less influenced by religious views.
• Changes in Law and Social Policies

  Child benefit bill 1975-

  Fixed payment to the mother for each child; reinforces the expressive role

  Allows women to have some financial independence. This gave some financial control to women (often for the first time) which goes against Murdock's claims that the family provides economic security for the woman. This can be used to show the rise of feminism. This contributes to the rise in divorce and rise in single parent families.
• Changes in Law and Social Policies

  Child Support Act 1991-

  Provided financial assistance from the father even if he is an absent parent

  Allowed women to be financially independent and raise children without father. This contributes to the rise in divorce as women would now be financially supported by ex-husbands (and vice versa) as well as rise in single parent families.
• Changes in Law and Social Policies

  Children Act 2004-

  Protection of children from neglect and abuse. State intervention in family life

  The can be used to support claims that the family has become more child-centred. It also helps explain the rise in divorce as many couples raising children in a family with domestic abuse would be forced to separate if the victim of abuse wanted to keep the children.
• Changes in Law and Social Policies

  Civil Partnership Act 2005-

  Marriage (Same Sex) Act 2015-

  Allowed legal status to same sex couples. Allowed equality for same sex couples. Explains rise in secularisation and rise in same sex families.
• Changes in Law and Social Policies

  The Childcare Act 2006-

  provided free nursery care for 4-year olds (then amended to 3 year olds and currently for 2 year olds) allowed women to return to work earlier.This allowed women to return to work after having children so contributes to changing gender roles. It would also allow parents raise children on their own as they could work to support their children - rise in single parent families.
• Changes in Law and Social Policies

  Adoption and Children Act 2002-

  Allowed fostering and adoption by single people and same sex couples. Allowed children without a nuclear family or a partner. This allowed same sex couples to adopt children, which may have contributed to a rise in this family type. It might explain the decline in the nuclear family as Murdock suggested that one function of the nuclear family was to

  reproduce.
• Changes in Law and Social Policies

  Working Family Tax Credit 2011

  Replaced with Universal Credit 2017-

  Provided in work benefits for parents allowing women financial independence and allowed them to go back to work.

  This allowed parents to be single and take on both the instrumental and expressive role - they can work part time and have their wages subsidies to an amount that they could live on while they raise their children.
• Changes in Law and Social Policies

  Cuts to social care-

  Elderly people requiring residential care or nursing care are not supported by the state if they have assets (over

  £25k) which means they would have to sell their homes to pay for their care.

  This contributes to the rise in beanpole families as many families cannot or do not want to sell the family home to pay for extortionate care home costs. The adult children will decide to move in with the elderly parent and care for them at home.