Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess sociological views of the impact of government policies and laws on family life (24 marks, timed 25 minutes) Item 2B Government policies and laws include tax and benefit policies as well as legislation such as that relating to divorce and marriage. Sociologists have different views on the impact of these policies and laws on families. For example, feminists argue that social policies assume that the ideal family is a patriarchal nuclear family, and that government policies and laws therefore favour this sort of family. On the other hand, the New Right argue that the benefit system undermines traditional nuclear families by actively encouraging lone parents Essay Social policies are defined as actions taken by governing bodies such as schools or welfare systems that create action in society and cause implications for its members, they’re usually based off of laws from the government. Sociologists greatly clash in their respective perspectives on the view of social policies which ultimately makes it hard to understand the true extent of what they do to our society.
Sociologist Weber supported this view stating that the growing disenchantment of the world will create a “desacralization of the world”. This view is backed by the Eurobarometer survey(2005) which found that 38% of people in the Uk believed in a good compared to around 60-70% in the 1980s. Bruce (2008) suggests as a result of the advances in science that Religion has been marginalized into the sidelines of life and is now considered to a last resort in areas of life that Science and Technology cannot help. Such as passing in exams or surviving an incurable illness. In bruce's words “when we have tried every cure for cancer, some of us pray”.
One of the many factors which contribute to the changes in the divorce rate is adjustments made to the law. Amendments such as the 1969 divorce law reform act; which made the reasoning of ‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’, a sole ground for divorce; whilst gradually leading to the instalment of the 1984 minimum divorce petition being reduced from three years to just one year. The modification of the law influences the change in the divorce rate because it gives unhappily married spouses the freedom to divorce more easily. However, the pervious factor does not explain why a large proportion of people chose to take advantage of this freedom. So an arguably more important reason as to why there has been a change in the divorce rate would be due to the declining stigma which society attaches to divorce.
It is questionable whether fault, a matter more naturally suited to the criminal law is appropriate for such an important area of family law. In the twenty first century, almost half of all marriages will end in divorce. However it is not the prevalence of divorce which is key. Irrespective of assertions from conservative commentators that marital breakdown is a sign that society is failing, times have changed. There is a greater focus on individual choice and happiness as Baroness Deech comments.
2. Assess the view that the nuclear family is no longer the norm. * People entering higher education; becoming more independent from parental control, causing a rise in cohabitation. * Changing position of women, allowed to divorce, producing lone and diverse families * Laws changed; civil partnership legal, hence same sex families developing. * Laws such as Child support agency, reinforce nuclear families; men paying for child.
Examine the ways in which social policies and laws may influence families and households. Some sociologists have suggested that social policy has caused families to become more diverse while others disagree. Social policies are the laws and practices put in place by the government that effect social issues, in this case the family. For example, in the 1930’s the Nazi government in Germany wanted to encourage Aryan families and put in place policies that involved sterilising certain groups to prevent them from having children. More recently in China they have a one child policy, if individuals have more than one child the government have put in place a series of penalties try and control their population.
Wills’ claims that the federal government's chief law enforcement official might need a refresher course on federal law pertaining to legal immigrants. Some American legislators have taken up the position that prohibiting bilingual ballots would be racist. However, evidence shows that millions of other American citizens feel that prohibiting the bilingual ballot is a step in the right direction. Wills’ begins his article with a political anecdote quoted by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. When he was asked whether he would favor the prohibition of the bilingual ballot, he simply stated, “Of course not.” Wills’ continues in the next section stating that our national identity and our federal laws are being weakened by immigration that is influenced by these bilingual ballots.
These are examples of laws that could have an impact on family life – these law were working to destroy pre-revolutionary patriarchal family structure – there would be more single-parent families, due to the fact divorces were available and easy to obtain. Also, the women had different roles than just being housewives – they actually went to paid work. However, after a period of time, there have been changes in the law. This happened due to Soviet state being beset by many difficulties, including civil war, the threat of war with Nazi German etc. The policy has been changed to prepare for law – divorce became more difficult to obtain, since the laws were tightened.
No Common Sense in Gun Control Stephen L. Kono Park University First Year Writing Seminar II: Academic Research and Writing EN 106 Mrs. Regina C. Muir October 11, 2013 Abstract Gun control advocates insist that increased gun control will lower the soaring crime rates of the early 70's. Gun violence is a big problem in the United States and should be reduced. Gun Control Act of 1968, did very little to lower the number of crimes committed by the use of firearms. Gun control in American history started back in 1775 and was the precursor to the American Revolution and our constitutional rights. One of the major points against gun control is the violation of your second amendment rights, you have the right to keep and bear arms for personal protection.
The Immigration Act of 1917 banned almost all Asian immigrants and introduced a literacy test. But even after this new law was introduced there seemed to be no stopping the immigrants coming to the USA in search of the American Dream. World War one was another reason for the USA wanting to restrict the amount of immigrants coming into their country. Most Americans had accepted the ‘melting pot’ idea that all new immigrants would become ‘Americans’ but during the war many German immigrants supported the German side and when the USA joined the war against Germany there was a danger that American Society would split. Many American’s were afraid that immigrants would bring in new ideas such as anarchism and communism.