6.2.2
Theoretical Approaches to Welfare
Marxist and Feminist Approaches to Welfare
Marxist and Feminist Approaches to Welfare
Different sociological perspectives adopt different attitudes towards the welfare state. The most important differences occur between Marxist, feminist, social democratic and New Right approaches.
Marxist approaches to welfare
Marxist approaches to welfare
- Marxists view the welfare state as a way of buying off working-class protest, by reducing the risks of social disorder to political instability caused by unrest and protest against extreme inequality, ill-health and poverty.
- Marxists see the welfare state as a legitimising device, in that a system based on equality, exploitation and conflict is seen as caring and just.
Marxist approaches cont.
Marxist approaches cont.
- The welfare state benefits capitalism by ensuring that the labour force remains healthy and, therefore, efficient.
- The welfare state appears to give workers a stake in capitalist society by keeping them healthy, efficient and trained and, therefore, ensuring a stable capitalist system, but Marxists argue that this is simply a form of social control.
Feminist approaches to welfare
Feminist approaches to welfare
- Feminists emphasise the inadequacy of the welfare state in meeting the needs of women and, therefore, represents a tool of patriarchy.
- The benefits system is most often based on the national insurance contributions, as many women either work part-time or have breaks in their work histories in order to care for children, they are likely to be penalised.
Feminist approaches cont.
Feminist approaches cont.
- The welfare state was founded on the assumption of women being financially supported by men.
- Women often work for free, through caring for children, elderly relatives, the sick and relatives who are disabled.
The Social Democratic Approach
The Social Democratic Approach
Different sociological perspectives adopt different attitudes towards the welfare state. The most important differences occur between Marxist, feminist, social democratic and New Right approaches.
Social democratic approach
Social democratic approach
- Social Democratic and New Right are the two main, and opposite, approaches to welfare.
- Social democrats such as Tawney (1931) argue the welfare state should adopt a ‘strategy of equality’ by redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor and reducing social inequality through progressive taxation.
Social cohesion
Social cohesion
- Such an approach delivers social cohesion through pensions, free healthcare and free education to create a less divided society and greater social integration by reducing the gap between the rich and the poor.
- Social Democrats insist that welfare benefits should be payable to all, regardless of means.
Universal welfare
Universal welfare
- Wealth is redistributed to reduce social marginalisation and inequality and, thus, creates social stability.
- Redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor reduces poverty and creates social cohesion.
- Universal welfare payments have the advantage of having less or no stigma for the welfare recipient.
Evaluation
Evaluation
- Le Grand (1982) points out that the middle-classes benefit more from the NHS and state education.
- Universal welfare means those social groups who don’t need the welfare still receive it which costs UK state and its taxpayers a lot of money.
Evaluation cont.
Evaluation cont.
- Means-tested welfare solves the problem of people abusing a generous welfare system.
- Tawney’s ‘strategy of equality’ creates a culture of dependency where people avoid looking for work.
The New Right Approach
The New Right Approach
Different sociological perspectives adopt different attitudes towards the welfare state. The most important differences occur between Marxist, feminist, social democratic and New Right approaches.
The New Right approach
The New Right approach
- New Right view supports the free-market in the delivery of welfare.
- A free market in welfare allows governments to hand over the responsibility of welfare to individuals and their families (voluntary sector) as well as charities.
Private provisioning
Private provisioning
- Lower taxation from lower welfare spending will encourage people to purchase their own welfare provision, for example, private health-care insurance such as BUPA.
- This helps reduce the welfare burden on the state and taxpayers and it removes the dependency culture and the growth in lone-parenting as both are supported by an over-generous welfare system.
Lower taxes
Lower taxes
- As the welfare burden is reduced, income tax thresholds can be lowered.
- Individuals are encouraged to take more personal responsibility encouraging more self-reliance.
- A welfare safety-net, for the very poor through means tested welfare payments are still provided but at a minimum cost to the state.
Evaluation
Evaluation
- Only people with high enough earnings can afford private healthcare.
- A two-tier healthcare system comes into existence leading to better healthcare for the rich.
- Stigma is attached to claiming welfare when means tested.
- People avoid medical check-ups due to cost.
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
Jump to other topics
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
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