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Summary Social policy
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Brief explanation of social policy including definition, functionalist view, feminist view (liberal vs radical), abortion act, march of progress
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Social policyDefn: “Social policy”
- A set of plans, ideas and actions put into place by governments and
local authorities to address social problems or concerns
- E.g., divorce reform act, welfare benefits, NHS, compulsory education
Functionalist view of social policy:
- Social policies are for the good of all
- Policies help families perform their functions more effectively
Feminist views of social policy:
- Liberal vs radical
- Drew (1995) – social policies reinforce gender regimes (familistic,
individualistic)
- Individualistic gender regimes show a march of progress
- Patriarchal policies which force women to stay at home (radical)
- Leonard – policies often reinforce patriarchal family + social control
- Liberal feminists recognise march of progress
- Radical feminists believe social policies trick women into believing
men (false consciousness)
Abortion act – liberal feminists would recognise a march of progress, with
abortion being decriminalised in 1967 and free through the NHS. They
would believe that this conveys society’s respect to women, by giving them
the option to have an abortion. However, radical feminists would say that
the abortion act is deceiving women by making them believe that they need
permission in order to have an abortion in the first place, permission which
was given by men in the patriarchal society of 1967. Radical feminists
would say that women still don’t have control of their bodies – with every
woman needing permission from 2 doctors to have an abortion – the job of
a doctor is largely male dominated.
Liberal feminist views on maternity/paternity policies:
- Pre 2015: Women 52 weeks, men 2 weeks
- From 2015: Shared parental leave
- Reduces traditional gender split between men’s work and women’s
work
Social attitudes haven’t changed in line
with social policies
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