Sociological Perspectives on Social Policy

This page examines various sociological perspectives on social policy, including:

1. Positivism and Functionalism: Functionalists argue that the government should create policies that help society function effectively. They view the state as serving society's interests and advocate for piecemeal social engineering to address specific issues.

Example: Educational policies are seen as promoting equal opportunity and social integration, while health and housing policies help families perform their functions more effectively.

2. Feminism: Feminist perspectives highlight the patriarchal nature of society and how social policies can perpetuate women's subordination. Different strands of feminism have influenced policy in various ways.

Highlight: The Sex Discrimination Act and Equal Pay Act reflect the feminist view of gender equality.

3. Marxism: Marxists argue that the state and its policies primarily serve the interests of capitalism and the ruling class. They view social policies as means of maintaining the labor force, preventing working-class revolution, and providing ideological legitimization for the capitalist system.

Example: The NHS serves capitalism by keeping workers fit to work, while the welfare state gives capitalism a 'caring face' to hide exploitation.

4. The New Right: This perspective advocates for minimal state involvement in society, opposing extensive welfare provisions. They argue that state intervention undermines individual responsibility and freedom.

Example: Murray argues that welfare benefits encourage a dependency culture and an underclass of lone mothers, undisciplined children, and absent fathers.

These diverse perspectives highlight the complex relationship between sociological research and social policy, demonstrating how different theoretical frameworks can lead to varying policy recommendations and critiques of existing social structures.