A-Level Sociology (AQA)

Topic Summaries

Families and households

Policies related to families and households

Policy Aim Impact Evaluation
Divorce Reform Act 1969 Made divorce easier by allowing irretrievable breakdown as grounds Increased divorce rates, more lone-parent families Critics say it weakened marriage; others see it as improving personal freedom
Child Benefits (introduced 1977, later means-tested) Financial support for parents to help with childcare costs Helped reduce child poverty Means-testing reduced universality and uptake
Child Support Act 1991 Ensured absent parents financially support children Increased financial responsibility for nonresident parents Enforcement issues; can strain parent relationships
Sure Start 1999 Provided early education, childcare, and parenting support in disadvantaged areas Improved school readiness in some areas Funding cuts reduced long-term impact
Civil Partnership Act 2004 & Same-Sex Marriage Act 2013 Gave legal recognition and rights to same-sex couples Expanded definition of family and promoted equality Some opposition from religious groups
Parental Leave Regulations 1999 & Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 Allowed time off work for childcare responsibilities Promoted gender equality in parenting Low uptake among fathers
Bedroom Tax 2013 Reduced housing benefit if families have spare bedrooms Encouraged efficient use of housing Criticised for disproportionately affecting low-income families with children
Two-Child Benefit Cap 2017 Limited child benefit to two children per family Reduced state spending Criticised for increasing child poverty in large families

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