Social Policies

Question	Answer
When were the conservatives in power? What are their key aims?	1979 - 1997 - reinforce importance of nuclear family - family should be based on heterosexual MARRIAGE - 2 parents - roles should be clearly defined
1986 Married Couples Tax Allowance *feminists = continuing to promote policies that perpetuate gender inequality	Conservative - married couples gained tax relief/ reduction on their income - tax incentive to encourage marriage and discourage cohabitation - influenced by idea that the most desirable model is the nuclear family with two parents
1988 Benefit Cuts	Conservative - benefits withdrawn from 16-18 year olds who didn't take place on a training scheme, not in full time education, not in employment (no job seekers allowance either) - single parent benefits were also cut - to condemn them and the welfare state they leech off
1993 Child Support Agency	Conservative - setup in an attempt to force absent fathers (or parents in general) to pay maintenance for their children - designed to discourage fathers from leaving the family/ having children outside of marriage - connects to criticism of divorce laws and that two parents are essential for stability
Privatising care for the elderly	Conservative - raised the costs of care for the elderly and put the responsibility onto the family - in reality it meant women were often the carers and were therefore restricted in employment opportunities - connects to idea that there should be clearly defined roles within the family
Refusal to introduce free/reduced cost childcare	Conservative - reinforced the idea that they favoured traditional gender roles by encouraging women to stay at home and look after children - roles and functions have to be clearly defined within the family
When was labour in power? What were their key aims?	1997 - 2010 - strengthen family life - promote nuclear - rejected conservative view that only male should earn, encouraged the 'neo-conventional dual earner model' - support single parent families
1998 New Deal	Labour - designed to help and assist single parents to return to work if they desired to do so - criticised Conservatives for treating them as a moral problem and victim blaming instead of supporting
Working Families Tax Credit	Labour - designed for low income families - allowed parents to claim tax relief against a proportion of their childcare costs
More generous maternity leave and pay and paternity leave	Labour - clear message of support and acceptance that both partners are likely to work and an acknowledgement of the increased role that fathers play in their children's lives - acknowledges that there are not such distinct roles and functions in the family and the dual-earner neo-conventional family dominates
15 1/2 hours per week of free childcare for two and a half year olds	Labour - made it easier for parents to return to work (dual-earner neo-conventional) - ensured children from poorer backgrounds had access to preschool nursery care
Winter fuel payments for the elderly	Labour - designed to assist with heating costs and reduce health issues - supports family most generally - connects to idea that nuclear families are the strongest and most desirable form and should be supported
2002 The Adoption and Children Act	Labour - gave single people and cohabiting couples (regardless of sexuality) the same right to adopt as married people - acknowledges that they are not so critical of other more diverse family types
2004 The Civil Partnership Act	Labour - gave same-sex couples the same legal rights as married couples in relation to property, pensions, inheritance etc. - indicates that they are not so critical of diverse family types
When was the coalition government (and who between)?	2010 - 2015 conservatives (modernisers and traditionalists) and liberal democrats
(reintroduction of) the Married Couples Tax Allowance	Coalition - clearly indicates a preference for marriage over cohabitation
The Legal Aid budget cut	Coalition - some vulnerable groups, such as women, would be unable to access legal advice if experiencing domestic violence/ wanted a divorce
Child Benefit became means tested	Coalition - child benefit cut for those earning above a certain threshold
2011 Troubled Families Programme	Coalition - designed to help families who have problems and cause problems in the community - aim was to get children back into school, reduce youth crime and antisocial behaviour
Scaling and cutting back benefits	Coalition - intended to reduce welfare dependency
How have the conservatives been criticised?	perpetuating inequalities blaming the victim ie. single parents for the problems of society *their policies increased inequalities
How have the labour been criticised?	*NR - intervened too much in family life, resulted in what they call a 'nanny state' where people don't take personal responsibility
How have the coalition been criticised?	*part of austerity measures meant greater hardships for poorest groups
Increase in paternity benefits	Coalition policy - gender roles are becoming more equal and less defined roles

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	Created by Sophie Pereira about 8 years ago