Government influence

• The UK government often makes laws that are designed to influence family life or family structure. These laws are part of social policy.
• Social policy laws cover areas such as divorce, changes to the benefit system which affects family income, reforms to the education system, adopting/fostering and employment.
• Donzelot (1977) argued that social policy can e used by the state to control families. He argues that professionals such as health care visitors can use their knowledge to control family behaviour.