Family policy

• what are social policies?

  refer to laws made by the government which aim to improve society or deal with a social policy.
• Fletcher view on social policy ?

  Health education and housing policies have led to the welfare stat which supports the family in completing its functions.
• new rights view on social policy ?

  they strong believers that the conventual heterosexual nuclear family which is self sufficient. Therefore believe that social policies have been a negative influence on society promoting family diversity and the disintegration of society.
• How do Feminism see policies?

  as assuming what a 'normal family' is patriarchal nuclear family with a male breadwinner and a female homemaker. And therefore social policies ensure the maintenance of this family type. E.G. Childcare policies and Caring for the elderly.
• How do Marxists see family policy?

  as a way for the ruling class to maintain their capitalist control of society and ensure that the family continues to support capitalism.
• What are the Types of social Policy?

  1. Providing Material Support for the family. Such as cash benefits through tax credits and child benefits.

  Helping parents to balance working life and family life. Policies such as maternity pay, early years childcare and child protection laws.
• 1980 - 1990's - Conservative Policies aim?


  The New Right had a lot of influence during this time so the main aim of policies were to strengthen the traditional Nuclear family, emphasizing the self help and reliance. Reduced welfare payments
• 1980 - 1990's - Conservative Policies - examples of there policies ?

  • Established Child Support Agency 1993|
  • Made illegitimate children have the same rights as those born to wedded parents.
  • Married Men's Tax Allowance
  • Children's Act 1989
• 1997 - 2010 - New Labour Policies aim?

  Silva & Smart - Favoured Duel earing families but also emphases the heterosexual nuclear family and for parents to take responsibility for their children.

  Some support for alternative family types.
• 1997 - 2010 - New Labour Policies - examples of polices?


  Parenting Orders

  Longer Maternity Leave

  Working families tax credit

  The New Deal

  Civil Partnerships

  Unmarried Couples adoption

  Sexuality Discrimination Laws
• 2010 Onwards - Coalition Policies

  Aim?

  Inconsistent policies on the family due to conflict between two camps of MP's Hayton:

  • Modernists that accepted diversity
  • Traditionalists that favoured a new right view
• 2010- onwards Examples of coalition policies?

  • Removed Couples penalty.
  • Shared Parental Leave
  • Equal Marriage Act
• Beverage report 1942?


  • Introduced the Welfare state including housing benefit and the NHS.
  • This led to the removal of some of the functions of the family to the welfare state.
• Divorce reform act 1969

  • Made Divorce easier to obtain. Allowed Women to file for divorce from her husband without having to prove, adultery, abuse or abandonment.
  • Increase in family diversity, especially single parent families and reconstituted families. Increased women's independence.
• legalisation of the contraceptive pill 1967

  • Made it legal for women who were unmarried to obtain the contraceptive pill
  • Women had control over their bodies and how many children they had, this led to a decline in the birth rate.