Family and Social Policy

Government policies have a significant impact on family life — shaping family structure, gender roles, child-rearing practices, and the distribution of resources. Different sociological perspectives interpret the relationship between the state and the family in very different ways. This lesson examines cross-cultural examples of family policy, UK policies, and the theoretical debates surrounding state intervention in family life. It is a key topic for AQA A-Level Sociology (7192).

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Cross-Cultural Examples of Family Policy

Government policies can dramatically shape family life. Examining cross-cultural examples demonstrates the power of the state to influence — or control — family behaviour.

China: The One-Child Policy (1979–2015)

Feature	Detail
Policy	Families were limited to one child; enforced through fines, loss of benefits, and (in some cases) forced sterilisation and abortion
Aim	To control rapid population growth and promote economic development
Effects	Birth rate fell dramatically; a significant gender imbalance emerged (preference for boys led to sex-selective abortion and female infanticide); the "little emperor" phenomenon (single children were spoiled); a rapidly ageing population with a shrinking workforce
Revision	Relaxed to a two-child policy in 2015 and a three-child policy in 2021, due to concerns about the ageing population and labour shortages

Romania: Pro-Natalist Policy under Ceausescu (1966–1989)

Feature	Detail
Policy	The Romanian government under Nicolae Ceausescu banned contraception and abortion (Decree 770, 1966) and introduced financial incentives for large families. Women were expected to have at least four children
Aim	To increase the population and boost the labour force
Effects	Birth rate initially rose sharply; but many unwanted children were abandoned to poorly-funded orphanages, where they experienced severe neglect and abuse. Women who failed to conceive were penalised. Illegal abortions rose, leading to thousands of women's deaths
Significance	Demonstrates the dangers of coercive pro-natalist policies; shows how the state can control women's bodies and reproductive rights

Nazi Germany: Family Policy and Eugenics (1933–1945)

Feature	Detail
Policy	The Nazi regime promoted a pro-natalist policy for "racially desirable" (Aryan) families — providing financial incentives, medals for mothers of large families (the Mother's Cross), and banning abortion for Aryan women. At the same time, it pursued a eugenic policy — forcibly sterilising and eventually murdering people deemed "unfit" (disabled people, Roma, Jews)
Aim	To create a racially "pure" population; to increase the Aryan population; to eliminate "undesirable" groups
Effects	Demonstrates the most extreme example of state intervention in family life; the family was subordinated to ideological and racial goals
Significance	A powerful illustration of how family policy can be used as a tool of social control and oppression

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UK Family Policies

The Welfare State (1945 onwards)

The creation of the welfare state after World War II had profound effects on family life:

Policy Area	Key Measures	Impact on Family
Health	NHS (1948) — free healthcare for all	Improved maternal and child health; reduced infant mortality; increased life expectancy
Education	1944 Education Act — free compulsory secondary education	Extended childhood; removed children from the labour market; promoted social mobility
Housing	Council housing programme; New Towns	Provided affordable housing for families; but large estates could break up extended family networks
Social security	Benefits for the unemployed, sick, elderly, and families with children	Provided a safety net; reduced absolute poverty; but New Right critics argue it created dependency

Child Benefit

Child Benefit (previously Family Allowance, introduced in 1945) is a universal benefit paid to the parent (usually the mother) of every child under 16 (or under 20 if in full-time education).

• Feminists support Child Benefit because it is paid to the mother, giving women independent financial resources within the family.
• The New Right has criticised it for encouraging people to have children they cannot afford to support.
• In 2013, the Coalition government introduced a means test for high-income families (the High Income Child Benefit Charge), removing the benefit from families where one partner earns over £60,000. Critics argued this undermined the principle of universality.

Tax and Marriage Policies

• The Married Couple's Allowance (introduced in the 1920s, abolished in 2000, partially reintroduced as the Marriage Allowance in 2015) provides a tax break for married couples and civil partners. This can be seen as state support for the traditional family — consistent with New Right principles.
• Tax credits (Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit — now being replaced by Universal Credit) provide financial support to low-income families, supplementing wages and encouraging employment.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Policy	Current Provision (UK)
Statutory Maternity Leave	Up to 52 weeks; first 6 weeks at 90% of pay, then Statutory Maternity Pay for up to 33 weeks
Statutory Paternity Leave	1–2 weeks at a flat rate (relatively low)
Shared Parental Leave (introduced 2015)	Parents can share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay between them

• Feminists welcome maternity leave and shared parental leave as supporting women's ability to combine work and motherhood. However, they note that paternity leave is much less generous, reinforcing the assumption that childcare is primarily women's responsibility.
• Take-up of shared parental leave has been very low — only about 2–8% of eligible fathers have used it, reflecting persistent cultural norms about gender roles.

Sure Start (1998)

Sure Start was introduced by the New Labour government to support families with young children (under 5) in disadvantaged areas. Sure Start Children's Centres provided:

• Childcare and early education
• Health services (health visitors, midwives)
• Parenting support and advice
• Employment support for parents