Social Policy Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary focus of social policy?

People's well-being as individuals and society members (correct)

Maximizing government revenue

Economic growth and development

Political ideologies and party movements

Which dimension of social policy focuses on theories, principles, and values?

Normative (correct)

Empirical evidence

Analytical

Descriptive

What aspect is NOT typically considered in social policy?

Welfare reform

Youth sports programs funding (correct)

Urban change and housing

Poverty and social exclusion

Why is empirical evidence important in studying social policy?

It ensures policy changes are based on factual information. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the concept of childhood is accurate?

The meanings of 'child' and 'childhood' can change over time and across cultures. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the definition of 'family' as described?

It is a changing social construct. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following biases does NOT align with Eichler's identification of biases in traditional theorizing?

Ecological bias Signup and view all the answers

What shift in focus did feminists promote among family researchers?

From 'who makes a family' to 'what makes a family' Signup and view all the answers

Which approach to family studies is emphasized as providing a lens rather than a fixed perspective?

Theoretical approaches Signup and view all the answers

What significant change did feminist theories bring about in private matters post-1960s?

They made private/intimate matters public. Signup and view all the answers

Which period of development is classified as a toddler?

1 - 2 years Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the social constructs influencing the definition of childhood?

Chronological age Signup and view all the answers

What type of family is characterized by different kids with different parents on both sides?

Stepfamilies Signup and view all the answers

Which family type includes individuals living separately to secure better opportunities?

Satellite families Signup and view all the answers

What factor has contributed to the decline of traditional married households?

Changes in societal values Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of transgender families as per modern demographic observations?

They are recognized as a valid family form Signup and view all the answers

Which description best fits a preschooler?

2 - 6 years Signup and view all the answers

What has been a significant trend regarding the structure of families today compared to the past?

Fewer households with a mother and father Signup and view all the answers

What shift occurred in the perception of children from the 1980s onwards?

Children were viewed as capable and independent. Signup and view all the answers

What concept did Hays coin related to parenting?

Intensive mothering Signup and view all the answers

Which historical event helped shape the development of intensive parenting?

World War II Signup and view all the answers

How were mothers' and children's needs viewed in the context of intensive parenting?

As opposite Signup and view all the answers

What role does involvement in a child's school life play in modern parenting as per recent views?

It is a requirement for good parenting. Signup and view all the answers

What societal trend emphasized individual responsibility in parenting?

Neoliberalism Signup and view all the answers

What was a concern raised by experts in the 2000s about children?

Children are not developing resilience. Signup and view all the answers

What is one criticism of the brain development advice given to parents?

It is too simplistic. Signup and view all the answers

Which parenting style is characterized by a structure that includes strict rules and evaluations of children?

Authoritarian Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of authoritative parenting?

Use of rational, issue-oriented discussion Signup and view all the answers

Which parenting style is associated with letting children follow their own impulses with little intervention?

Permissive Signup and view all the answers

What does helicopter parenting primarily involve?

Constant support using technology Signup and view all the answers

Intensive parenting is often criticized because it relies on which of the following assumptions?

Parents have access to ample financial resources Signup and view all the answers

What challenge does intensive parenting pose according to many family scholars?

It encourages children to be overly dependent on parents. Signup and view all the answers

The parenting styles of less-privileged mothers are often focused on which of the following outcomes?

Helping their children survive in reality Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is highlighted as impacting parenting approaches and child outcomes?

Structural barriers and social responsibility Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social policy is about people's wellbeing both as individuals and members of society.
Social policy is an interdisciplinary field, drawing from multiple disciplines.
Social policy focuses on basic human needs and societal responses.
Social policy is also called public policy or public administration.

It addresses significant social issues.
It evaluates government spending on social programs.
It seeks to understand society and empower it to enact change.

Social policy is studied through two dimensions:
- Normative: Emphasizes theories, principles, and values.
- Empirical Evidence: Involves gathering data to assess current situations.

The definition of "child" and "childhood" varies across cultures, time periods, and institutions.
There is no objective point at which a child transitions to adolescence or adulthood.
"Child" and "childhood" are socially constructed, meaning their definitions depend on cultural norms and values.

Recognizing Children

Childhood is classified according to age, maturity level, physical development, and economic dependency.
Categories include newborn, infant, toddler, preschooler, adolescent, and adult.

Family Forms and Trends

The traditional nuclear family is declining.
Married couples remain the dominant family form.
Same-sex couples are now recognized as marriages and families.
Transgender families are increasingly acknowledged.
Diverse family forms include:
- Married families (nuclear)
- Stepfamilies (blended)
- Transnational families/multi-local families
- Same-sex families
- Transgender families
- Common-law couples
- Lone-parent families
Satellite families (satellite children) involve individuals living separately from their children for better opportunities.

Defining 'Family'

There is no one overarching definition of family.
The concept of family is dynamic and evolving.
Judicial definitions of family tend to be more comprehensive but may not fully capture the lived reality.
Feminist perspectives shift the focus from 'who makes a family' to 'what makes a family'.

Theories and Methods in Family Studies

Theories are not static but act as lenses for understanding the social world.

Biases in Traditional Family Theories

Seven identified biases in traditional family theorizing:
- Monolithic Bias: Emphasizes uniformity and ignores diversity.
- Conservative Bias: Romanticizes the nuclear family and downplays recent changes.
- Ageist Bias: Excludes children and elderly in analysis of family dynamics.
- Sexist Bias: Assumes natural division of labor based on sex.
- Micro-Structural Bias: Treats families as isolated units.
- Racist Bias: Devalues or ignores families of non-dominant groups.
- Heterosexist Bias: Treats heterosexual family as "natural" and denies family status to LGBTQ+ families.

Feminist Theories and Family Studies

The 1960s marked a significant shift in feminist theories, bringing private matters like child-rearing, sexuality, and domestic labor into public discourse.
There is diversity within feminism.

Changing Understandings of Childhood

Children were initially viewed as miniature adults.
Over time, a more nuanced understanding of childhood emerged, recognizing adolescence as a distinct period.
Changing understandings of childhood influenced perceptions of good parenting.

"Good Parenting" Standards

The 1980s viewed children as more capable and independent, with working mothers seen as positive role models.
"Good parenting" became more child-centered and intensive in the past three decades.

Intensive Parenting

Hays (1996) coined the term "intensive mothering," signifying an unprecedented level of attention to children's development.
Intensive parenting is the standard in Canada and other Western societies.
Intensive parenting can be traced back to the mid-20th century, influenced by Bowlby’s theories on maternal deprivation and attachment.
Intensive parenting emphasizes parents' responsibility for children's success, fueled by neoliberalism and a risk culture.
It is often associated with increased use of expert advice and focus on children's brain development.
Intensive parenting extends to involvement in a child's school life.
Concerns have emerged regarding intensive parenting's potential negative effects on children's resilience.

Parenting Styles

Authoritarian parenting: Focuses on control and rules.
Authoritative parenting: Emphasizes rational discussion and guidance.
Permissive parenting: Allows children significant freedom and limited discipline.

Newer Parenting Styles

Attachment parenting: Focuses on close physical contact, breastfeeding on demand, and co-sleeping.
"Helicopter parenting": Excessive and intrusive involvement in adult children's lives.

Concerns about Parenting Styles

"Helicopter parenting" can negatively impact students' well-being.
There is a concern about raising a generation of overly stressed and scheduled children who lack independence.
Striking a balance between under-parenting and over-parenting is crucial for fostering resilience.

Class, Privilege, and Intensive Parenting

Intensive parenting is an ideal based on the assumption of available resources (time, money, and support).
It is a middle-class ideal that is often inaccessible to low-income families.
Less privileged mothers adapt their parenting styles to help their children navigate the realities of marginalization.
Intensive parenting sets the standard for "good parenting," placing pressure on parents who may not have the means to meet its demands.

Conclusion

Parenting in Canadian society is highly child-centered and intensive.
"Good parenting" demands significant financial resources, time, and energy.
Recognising the challenges parents face and addressing structural barriers could lead to policies and programs based on social responsibility for child outcomes.

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Description

Explore the interdisciplinary field of social policy, which focuses on individual and societal well-being. This quiz covers the significance of social policy, its impact on social issues, and the concept of childhood as a social construct. Test your understanding of normative and empirical dimensions in social policy.