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4 Dec 2025

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Understanding Family Policy in Sociology

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Cece ๐Ÿน @cecexstudies

Sociology of family policy explores how government decisions influence family structures and dynamics. From controlling population growth to... Show more

Sociology: Family Policy
The One-Child Policy

The effects of the one-child policy are that:
- This has increased that ageing population mea

Population Control Policies

China's one-child policy had far-reaching consequences on Chinese society. It created an ageing population with fewer workers to support them, while also leading families to abandon baby girls since boys were viewed as better financial providers. Many women faced forced abortions or had to flee their villages to avoid punishment.

The policy has since evolved into a two-child policy, primarily to address the gender imbalance created by the original restrictions. This shows how governments sometimes need to adjust policies when unintended consequences emerge.

Romania took the opposite approach under Communist ruler Nicolae Ceausescu, who banned contraception and abortion to rapidly increase the population. This devastating policy resulted in approximately 10,000 women dying from illegal abortion complications, with many more permanently injured.

Did you know? After Romania legalized abortion in 1989, an "abortion culture" developed with the highest rate in Europe - 3.2 abortions for every birth in 1990. Today it's around 0.4 compared to the UK's 0.2.

Sociology: Family Policy
The One-Child Policy

The effects of the one-child policy are that:
- This has increased that ageing population mea

Perspectives On Social Policy

Functionalists view society as built on harmony and shared values. They believe the government acts in everyone's interest, creating policies that help families perform their functions better and improve life for all members. According to Fletcher (1966), policies like the NHS have developed a welfare state that supports families.

The New Right takes a dramatically different position, strongly favoring traditional nuclear families. They believe many modern policies harm families by creating a dependency culture that undermines proper child socialization and male work ethic. They oppose easier divorce laws, civil partnerships, gay marriage, and rights for unmarried couples.

Instead, the New Right advocates for cutting welfare spending, restricting benefits, denying council housing to unmarried teenage mothers, introducing tax policies favoring married couples, and making absent fathers financially responsible for children.

Important contrast While functionalists see policies as helpful, Jacques Donzelot offers a critical view, suggesting social policy actually functions as a form of state control over families.

Sociology: Family Policy
The One-Child Policy

The effects of the one-child policy are that:
- This has increased that ageing population mea

Competing Family Ideologies

Functionalists and the New Right fundamentally disagree about the state's role in family life. Functionalists believe state welfare policies benefit families and help them meet members' needs better. In contrast, the New Right argues that less state interference leads to greater self-reliance, which they view as essential for healthy families.

The New Right perspective faces significant criticism, especially from feminists who argue it attempts to justify returning to a nuclear family model that subordinated women. Critics also point out that the New Right wrongly assumes the nuclear family is "natural" (based on biological differences) rather than socially constructed.

There are practical criticisms too. Cutting benefits would likely make poor families even poorer and less self-reliantโ€”achieving the opposite of what the New Right claims to want. Critics also note that the New Right overlooks many existing policies that already support the nuclear family.

Think critically These perspectives aren't just academic theoriesโ€”they actively shape the policies that affect real families. Which perspective do you think has most influenced family policy in Britain today?

We thought youโ€™d never ask...

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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

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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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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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Sudenaz Ocak

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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

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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.

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Xander S

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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 ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿค‘๐Ÿ’—โœจ๐ŸŽ€๐Ÿ˜ฎ

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ย 

Sociology

โ€ข

384

โ€ข

4 Dec 2025

โ€ข

3 pages

Understanding Family Policy in Sociology

user profile picture

Cece ๐Ÿน

@cecexstudies

Sociology of family policy explores how government decisions influence family structures and dynamics. From controlling population growth to shaping family values, these policies reflect deeper ideological positions about what families should look like and how they should function.

Sociology: Family Policy
The One-Child Policy

The effects of the one-child policy are that:
- This has increased that ageing population mea

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Population Control Policies

China's one-child policy had far-reaching consequences on Chinese society. It created an ageing population with fewer workers to support them, while also leading families to abandon baby girls since boys were viewed as better financial providers. Many women faced forced abortions or had to flee their villages to avoid punishment.

The policy has since evolved into a two-child policy, primarily to address the gender imbalance created by the original restrictions. This shows how governments sometimes need to adjust policies when unintended consequences emerge.

Romania took the opposite approach under Communist ruler Nicolae Ceausescu, who banned contraception and abortion to rapidly increase the population. This devastating policy resulted in approximately 10,000 women dying from illegal abortion complications, with many more permanently injured.

Did you know? After Romania legalized abortion in 1989, an "abortion culture" developed with the highest rate in Europe - 3.2 abortions for every birth in 1990. Today it's around 0.4 compared to the UK's 0.2.

Sociology: Family Policy
The One-Child Policy

The effects of the one-child policy are that:
- This has increased that ageing population mea

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Perspectives On Social Policy

Functionalists view society as built on harmony and shared values. They believe the government acts in everyone's interest, creating policies that help families perform their functions better and improve life for all members. According to Fletcher (1966), policies like the NHS have developed a welfare state that supports families.

The New Right takes a dramatically different position, strongly favoring traditional nuclear families. They believe many modern policies harm families by creating a dependency culture that undermines proper child socialization and male work ethic. They oppose easier divorce laws, civil partnerships, gay marriage, and rights for unmarried couples.

Instead, the New Right advocates for cutting welfare spending, restricting benefits, denying council housing to unmarried teenage mothers, introducing tax policies favoring married couples, and making absent fathers financially responsible for children.

Important contrast: While functionalists see policies as helpful, Jacques Donzelot offers a critical view, suggesting social policy actually functions as a form of state control over families.

Sociology: Family Policy
The One-Child Policy

The effects of the one-child policy are that:
- This has increased that ageing population mea

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Competing Family Ideologies

Functionalists and the New Right fundamentally disagree about the state's role in family life. Functionalists believe state welfare policies benefit families and help them meet members' needs better. In contrast, the New Right argues that less state interference leads to greater self-reliance, which they view as essential for healthy families.

The New Right perspective faces significant criticism, especially from feminists who argue it attempts to justify returning to a nuclear family model that subordinated women. Critics also point out that the New Right wrongly assumes the nuclear family is "natural" (based on biological differences) rather than socially constructed.

There are practical criticisms too. Cutting benefits would likely make poor families even poorer and less self-reliantโ€”achieving the opposite of what the New Right claims to want. Critics also note that the New Right overlooks many existing policies that already support the nuclear family.

Think critically: These perspectives aren't just academic theoriesโ€”they actively shape the policies that affect real families. Which perspective do you think has most influenced family policy in Britain today?

We thought youโ€™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?

You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help โ€“ all at your fingertips.

15

Smart Tools NEW

Transform this note into: โœ“ 50+ Practice Questions โœ“ Interactive Flashcards โœ“ Full Mock Exam โœ“ Essay Outlines

Mock Exam
Quiz
Flashcards
Essay

Similar content

Marxist Family Dynamics

Explore the Marxist perspective on family structures and their role in perpetuating capitalism. This summary delves into concepts like false class consciousness, socialization, and the ideological control exerted by the family unit. Understand how early Marxists, including Engels, viewed the nuclear family as essential for wealth transmission and the maintenance of class inequality. Ideal for sociology students studying Marxism and its implications on social structures.

SociologySociology
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Family Dynamics and Trends

Explore key sociological concepts related to family dynamics, including the rise of cohabitation, changing marriage patterns, and the impact of social policies on family structures. This summary covers essential factors influencing family diversity, divorce rates, and the evolving roles of women in society. Ideal for sociology students preparing for essays or exams.

SociologySociology
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Key Sociologists Overview

Explore essential sociological theories and perspectives from key thinkers in education and family studies. This knowledge organiser covers influential figures such as Ball, Bowles, Durkheim, and Becker, highlighting their contributions to understanding social class, labelling theory, and family dynamics. Ideal for students preparing for sociology exams.

SociologySociology
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Explore the critiques of Parsons' family theories through historical and interpretivist perspectives. This summary covers key studies by Laslett, Anderson, Fletcher, Willmott, Young, and Chester, highlighting family diversity, roles, and patterns in preindustrial and industrial Britain. Ideal for sociology students seeking to understand functionalism critiques and family dynamics.

SociologySociology
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Explore key concepts in sociology with this comprehensive overview of family dynamics, including dual career families, lone parenthood, domestic labor division, and the debate on symmetrical families. This resource features exam-style questions and answers, highlighting perspectives from functionalism and feminism. Ideal for AQA GCSE Sociology students.

SociologySociology
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Most popular content: Sociological Functionalism

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Students love us โ€” 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 itโ€™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 didnโ€™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 Iโ€™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 ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿค‘๐Ÿ’—โœจ๐ŸŽ€๐Ÿ˜ฎ

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 itโ€™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 didnโ€™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 Iโ€™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 ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿค‘๐Ÿ’—โœจ๐ŸŽ€๐Ÿ˜ฎ

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