Social Policy and the Family
Social policies, implemented by state bodies and based on government laws, have significant impacts on family life. These impacts can be both direct, through specific family-oriented laws, and indirect, through broader social and economic policies.
Definition: Social policies are measures taken by state bodies, such as schools and welfare agencies, based on laws introduced by the government.
The effects of social policies on families can be categorized as follows:
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Direct effects: Policies specifically aimed at family life, such as laws on marriage, divorce, child protection, contraception, and abortion.
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Indirect effects: Policies on other social or economic issues that indirectly impact families. For example, compulsory schooling provides childcare and extends children's financial dependence.
Example: Compulsory schooling is an indirect policy that affects families by providing childcare and keeping children financially dependent for longer periods.
The document outlines several perspectives on social policy and the family:
Functionalism
The Functionalist perspective on family and government policies views society as based on value consensus. Key points include:
- The state acts in the interests of the whole society, with policies benefiting everyone.
- There is a 'march of progress' - policies are gradually improving family life.
- The welfare state enables families to better care for their members through access to services like the NHS.
The New Right
The New Right is a conservative political perspective that significantly influences social policy. New Right views on welfare and family dependence include:
- Opposition to state intervention in family life.
- Belief in the traditional nuclear family as 'natural' and based on biological division of labor.
- Criticism of family diversity, viewing single-parent and same-sex families as potentially damaging to children.
- Opposition to generous welfare benefits, arguing they create a 'dependency culture'.
Highlight: The New Right criticizes welfare policies for undermining family self-reliance and creating a 'dependency culture' where individuals rely on state support.
The New Right's influence on policies is evident in:
- Conservative governments (1979-97): Banned promotion of homosexuality, established the Child Support Agency.
- Current Conservative party: Divided between modernizers and traditionalists.
- New Labour governments (1997-2010): Favored married, heterosexual couples as the best environment for child-rearing.
Feminism
Feminist perspectives argue that social policies often shape family life in ways that benefit men and maintain patriarchy. Key points include:
- Policies often assume the patriarchal family as the norm.
- Examples like longer maternity leave compared to paternity leave reinforce women's responsibility for childcare.
Gender Regimes
The concept of 'gender regimes' describes how social policies in different countries can encourage or discourage gender equality in the family:
- Familistic gender regimes: Assume traditional gender division (e.g., Greece).
- Individualistic gender regimes: Treat husbands and wives equally (e.g., Sweden).
Vocabulary: Gender regimes refer to the way social policies in different countries either encourage or discourage gender equality within families.
Recent trends show a move towards individualistic gender regimes in most European Union countries. However, the global recession since 2008 has put pressure on women to take more responsibility for family care. There is also a trend towards neoliberal welfare policies, encouraging market-based solutions rather than state support.
Quote: "Since the global recession (2008), cutbacks in govt spending had put pressure on women to take more responsibility for caring for family members."
