social policy and the family

the family has sometimes been regarded as private sphere in which the state should not interfere.

however there is no doubt that in britain state policies have a direct and indirect impact upon family and sometimes the government purpose intervene in family

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the state can affect family by:

education policies such as provision of nursery education and compulsory school. taxation policies such as the way the incomes on men and women are taxed. legal changes such suitability and location. changes in divorce law and child protection.

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new right perspective

strongly in favour of conventional nuclear family. they see this family structure as providing stability as well as being independent and self reliant. if family members car for each other

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charles murray?

argues that an underclass has been created through over generous welfare payments especially to single parents. lone parenthood is harmful to society because it encourages irresponsible behaviour amounst children who copy parents.

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eileen drew gender regimes

argues policies of different governments follow different gender regimes

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familistic gender regimes

favour traditional nuclear families in which husbands are expected to be the main breadwinner while wives are expected to concentrate on domestic responsibilities

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individualistic gender regimes

believe that assumptions should not be made about the roles of husbands and wives and they should be treated equally. this type of gender regimes is more tolerant of the choices that individuals make/family diversity is more accepted by society

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policies that support conventional families

assumption that child benefits should be paid to mothers. school hours that assume one parent will be at home in the afternoon making it difficult for dual earner families.

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policies that support conventional families p2

limited acted provision of care for the elderly and the encouragement of relative to provide care. fox harding housing policies that assume nuclear families should get priority.

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policies that don't support conventional families?

gradual legalisation of divorce laws. recognition of gay lesbian. increased provision of state funding for childcare for children under school age. increased police action and concern about domestic violence particularly that committed by men&women

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pamela abbott and clair wallace?

the governments of margaret thatcher followed some policies supporting traditional families. they changed taxation policies so that cohabitation couples could no longer claim more in tax allowances than married couples

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however

they did not introduce tax or benefits policies to encourage mothers to stay at home. they made divorce easy to obtain they gave illegitame children the same rights as those born within marriage.

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social policy and the family

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