Policies on family life

Functionalists: 👤 Fletcher (1973) argues policies support families in performing their functions better, such as health and education services.
- Marxists claim policies serve capitalist needs rather than families
Marxists: 👤 Donzelot (1977) views policy as a means of state control, targeting working-class families through social workers and health visitors.
- Overlooks benefits some policies bring
Feminists: 👥 Delphy and Leonard (1992) argue policies often reinforce patriarchal family structures, even when they appear neutral.
- Liberal feminists see progress in policies that promote gender equality
New Right: 👤Murray (1998) policies should promote the nuclear family and discourage welfare dependency.
- Simplistic; ignores structural causes of family breakdown

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