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11 Dec 2025
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Families and Households: Government Social Policies
Laoni Ryback
@laoniryback_xcid
1 / 3
Conservative Government Family Policies (1979-1997)
The Conservative governments of 1979-1997 strongly promoted the traditional nuclear family with their "Back to Basics" campaign, viewing it as the ideal family structure. They implemented policies that encouraged the male breadwinner/female housewife model, including the Married Men's Tax Allowance which effectively discouraged women from working by creating different tax brackets for men and women.
Marxist critics argued these policies merely supported capitalism by justifying cuts to state expenditure. The creation of the Child Support Agency in 1993 forced absent parents (primarily fathers) to pay maintenance, which critics viewed as a way to reduce government spending on benefits rather than genuinely supporting families.
Section 28 represented a direct attack on family diversity by prohibiting the "promotion of homosexuality" in schools, effectively denying recognition of family structures outside the traditional nuclear model. The government also proposed stricter divorce rules, requiring a year of separation before granting divorce.
Important to know: The Children Act 1889 established legal rights for children, marking an early recognition that family policy needed to consider more than just adult relationships.
New Labour Government Approach (1997-2010)
New Labour took a more progressive approach to family policy while maintaining that marriage provided the best foundation for family life. They introduced groundbreaking legislation acknowledging family diversity, including the Civil Partnership Act 2005 which legally recognised same-sex relationships on similar terms to marriage, though stopping short of actual marriage equality.
The Adoption and Children's Act 2002 expanded adoption rights to same-sex couples, unmarried heterosexual couples, and single people, representing a significant shift in family policy. Additionally, paid paternity leave was introduced in 2003, allowing fathers two weeks of leave following childbirth.
New Labour replaced the Married Men's Tax Allowance with the Working Family Tax Credits, removing incentives for couples to marry and instead providing support for families with children regardless of marital status. This reflected their broader philosophy of promoting work over welfare, encouraging both parents to be employed while making childcare more accessible and affordable.
Think about this: New Labour faced criticism for cutting lone parent benefits while encouraging single parents to work. Was this a progressive policy aimed at equality or simply another way to reduce welfare spending?
Coalition and Recent Government Policies (2010-2015+)
The Coalition Government (2010-2015) blended Conservative New Right approaches with Liberal Democrat recognition of diverse family forms. A significant advancement was the Equal Marriage Act which legalised same-sex marriage, though with provisions allowing religious institutions to decline performing such ceremonies without breaching human rights laws.
The introduction of Shared Parental Leave represented an attempt to create gender equality in childcare responsibilities, allowing both parents to share leave equally rather than assuming mothers would take extended periods while fathers received just two weeks. However, the policy's impact has been limited, with only 2% of couples sharing parental leave and just 40% of fathers using their entitled two weeks.
Another policy change removed the so-called "couples' penalty" from the benefits system, addressing Conservative concerns that the previous system incentivised couples to separate to receive more benefits. This created an inconsistent thread in social policy, with the main focus appearing to be reducing public spending rather than supporting families.
Did you know? Civil partnerships were eventually extended to heterosexual couples in 2019, resolving an inequality where same-sex couples had both marriage and civil partnership options while heterosexual couples could only marry.
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Families and Households: Government Social Policies
Laoni Ryback
@laoniryback_xcid
Explore how UK government policies have shaped family life and societal attitudes from 1979 to the present. This topic examines how different political ideologies influenced family legislation, reflecting changing values around marriage, parenting, and family diversity.
Conservative Government Family Policies (1979-1997)
The Conservative governments of 1979-1997 strongly promoted the traditional nuclear family with their "Back to Basics" campaign, viewing it as the ideal family structure. They implemented policies that encouraged the male breadwinner/female housewife model, including the Married Men's Tax Allowance which effectively discouraged women from working by creating different tax brackets for men and women.
Marxist critics argued these policies merely supported capitalism by justifying cuts to state expenditure. The creation of the Child Support Agency in 1993 forced absent parents (primarily fathers) to pay maintenance, which critics viewed as a way to reduce government spending on benefits rather than genuinely supporting families.
Section 28 represented a direct attack on family diversity by prohibiting the "promotion of homosexuality" in schools, effectively denying recognition of family structures outside the traditional nuclear model. The government also proposed stricter divorce rules, requiring a year of separation before granting divorce.
Important to know: The Children Act 1889 established legal rights for children, marking an early recognition that family policy needed to consider more than just adult relationships.
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New Labour Government Approach (1997-2010)
New Labour took a more progressive approach to family policy while maintaining that marriage provided the best foundation for family life. They introduced groundbreaking legislation acknowledging family diversity, including the Civil Partnership Act 2005 which legally recognised same-sex relationships on similar terms to marriage, though stopping short of actual marriage equality.
The Adoption and Children's Act 2002 expanded adoption rights to same-sex couples, unmarried heterosexual couples, and single people, representing a significant shift in family policy. Additionally, paid paternity leave was introduced in 2003, allowing fathers two weeks of leave following childbirth.
New Labour replaced the Married Men's Tax Allowance with the Working Family Tax Credits, removing incentives for couples to marry and instead providing support for families with children regardless of marital status. This reflected their broader philosophy of promoting work over welfare, encouraging both parents to be employed while making childcare more accessible and affordable.
Think about this: New Labour faced criticism for cutting lone parent benefits while encouraging single parents to work. Was this a progressive policy aimed at equality or simply another way to reduce welfare spending?
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Coalition and Recent Government Policies (2010-2015+)
The Coalition Government (2010-2015) blended Conservative New Right approaches with Liberal Democrat recognition of diverse family forms. A significant advancement was the Equal Marriage Act which legalised same-sex marriage, though with provisions allowing religious institutions to decline performing such ceremonies without breaching human rights laws.
The introduction of Shared Parental Leave represented an attempt to create gender equality in childcare responsibilities, allowing both parents to share leave equally rather than assuming mothers would take extended periods while fathers received just two weeks. However, the policy's impact has been limited, with only 2% of couples sharing parental leave and just 40% of fathers using their entitled two weeks.
Another policy change removed the so-called "couples' penalty" from the benefits system, addressing Conservative concerns that the previous system incentivised couples to separate to receive more benefits. This created an inconsistent thread in social policy, with the main focus appearing to be reducing public spending rather than supporting families.
Did you know? Civil partnerships were eventually extended to heterosexual couples in 2019, resolving an inequality where same-sex couples had both marriage and civil partnership options while heterosexual couples could only marry.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
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Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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Most popular content: Family Diversity
Most popular content in Sociology
Most popular content
English - inspector calls quotes and analysis
Quotes from every main character
English Literature10
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user