The family & Social Policy
Background A social policy is the intention for governments to adopt a course of action
that will affect others, in this case the family.Some believe that the
government should not interfere and refer to it as the ‘nanny state’.Others
would argue that the state should introduce policies on the family to protect
its members, particularly children. The debate here is whether social policies
encourage or discourage the ‘traditional’ family, or whether they encourage
or discourage family diversity.
Examples of We can only be married to one person at atime.
policies that
Couples have to prove that they have been separated for a year before they
support the
can divorce.
traditional
nuclear CSA – making absent parents pay. This discourages divorce and starting
family second
families.
Birth control in schools (the morning after pill)– manages teenage
pregnancies.
Johnson claims that school hours encourage women to do the school run
and have jobs that work around the family.
Public housing is typically three bedroom which encourages small, nuclear
families.
Maternity leave STILL encourages a traditional division of labour.
Every child has the right to 3 hours of free nursery care per week which
takes pressure off grandparents.
Policies which The age of consent for homosexuality has been lowered to 16. The New
go against the Right believe that this encourages homosexual families.
nuclear
Rape within marriage is now illegal.
family and
support Gay marriage is now legal.
diversity
Cohabiting couples have the same legal rights as married couples.
Gay couples, cohabiting couples and singles can now adopt.
Domestic violence is starting to be taken seriously and men can face
criminal
prosecution.
Welfare payments to single mothers allows them to become more
independent and less reliant on men.
Background A social policy is the intention for governments to adopt a course of action
that will affect others, in this case the family.Some believe that the
government should not interfere and refer to it as the ‘nanny state’.Others
would argue that the state should introduce policies on the family to protect
its members, particularly children. The debate here is whether social policies
encourage or discourage the ‘traditional’ family, or whether they encourage
or discourage family diversity.
Examples of We can only be married to one person at atime.
policies that
Couples have to prove that they have been separated for a year before they
support the
can divorce.
traditional
nuclear CSA – making absent parents pay. This discourages divorce and starting
family second
families.
Birth control in schools (the morning after pill)– manages teenage
pregnancies.
Johnson claims that school hours encourage women to do the school run
and have jobs that work around the family.
Public housing is typically three bedroom which encourages small, nuclear
families.
Maternity leave STILL encourages a traditional division of labour.
Every child has the right to 3 hours of free nursery care per week which
takes pressure off grandparents.
Policies which The age of consent for homosexuality has been lowered to 16. The New
go against the Right believe that this encourages homosexual families.
nuclear
Rape within marriage is now illegal.
family and
support Gay marriage is now legal.
diversity
Cohabiting couples have the same legal rights as married couples.
Gay couples, cohabiting couples and singles can now adopt.
Domestic violence is starting to be taken seriously and men can face
criminal
prosecution.
Welfare payments to single mothers allows them to become more
independent and less reliant on men.
