Government policies and family roles

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(e) Examine the ways in which government policies may influence family roles and relationships. (20 marks)

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Divorce rates have increased throughout the last forty years due to the divorce act in 1969. The increase in divorce rates means that families are becoming more diverse and as a result the nuclear family is breaking down creating more lone parent and reconstructed families within society. Another reason as to why divorce rates are increasing is that divorce is no longer frowned upon by society or religions so a divorce can be easily attained without any embarrassment or shame. The rise in divorce rates means that there is also a rise in the cohabitation rates which is the main reason for the formation of step and single parent families. Cohabitation is the cause in the breakdown of the nuclear family. Therefore government policies can influence the family structure, roles and relationships within all types of societies.

Another reason as to how the government have used policies to influence family roles, relationships and structures is childcare. Childcare can influence all diversities of families as they are the essential part of the family unit. New Right and the Liberal Democrats all wish to increase the parental leave for parents. The New Right perspective influences the Conservatives and they would like to increase the paternity and maternity leave to 12 months which can be split between the parents. They believe this will be flexible and reliable for parents and after this leave parents will also be able to request flexible working hours if there children are under the age of 18 years. The Conservatives may be trying to influence the parents to have close relationships with the children and this policy is promoting the nuclear family…