Which group argues that welfare creates a dependency culture?

the New Right. They say that generous benefits discourage work.

What is the "culture of poverty"?

the idea that the poor hold values that keep them poor and pass them to their children. Critics say it blames the poor for their poverty.

What is the Marxist criticism of the welfare state?

it keeps workers quiet and leaves the ownership of wealth unchanged. For Marxists, it protects capitalism.

What is the underclass, according to the New Right?

a group at the bottom of society who depend on benefits in the long term. The idea is criticised for blaming the poor.

Which evidence would best challenge the idea of a dependency culture?

most people on benefits say they want to work and take jobs when they are available. If people want to work, the problem is a lack of jobs, not a lack of will.

Have attempts to reduce inequality worked? · Cambridge IGCSE Sociology

In plain words

Billions have been spent on benefits, laws and aid, and the gap between rich and poor is still there. Each school of thought has its own explanation, and each blames something different.

8 things to know

The New Right argue that the welfare state has made things worse. Generous benefits create a dependency culture, in which people rely on the state and lose the habit of working.
The New Right describe an underclass: a group at the bottom of society, cut off from the rest, who depend on benefits over the long term.
The culture of poverty is the idea that the poor develop their own values, such as living for today and believing that nothing can change, and pass them to their children, so that poverty continues down the generations.
Critics of these views say that they blame the poor for their poverty, and ignore the real causes: too few jobs, low pay and discrimination. Most poor people share the same values as everyone else.
Marxists criticise the welfare state from the other side. It gives workers just enough to keep them healthy and quiet, so capitalism survives. It does not touch the ownership of wealth, so the cause of inequality remains.
Criticisms of NGOs: they are small in scale, they can create dependency, and they deal with effects, not causes.
Feminists criticise equality legislation. The laws exist, yet women still earn less, are still rare in the top jobs, and still do most of the unpaid housework and childcare. Laws cannot change attitudes, and they are hard to enforce.
In reply, supporters point out that absolute poverty has fallen, that far more girls are educated than before, and that open discrimination is now illegal and widely condemned.

Worked example

"The welfare state has failed to reduce inequality." Outline a balanced answer.

For the statement: the New Right say it creates dependency and an underclass. Marxists say it leaves the ownership of wealth untouched.
Against: free healthcare, education and pensions have improved the life chances of the poor, and absolute poverty has fallen.
Evaluation: the two sets of critics disagree with each other. One says welfare does too much, and the other too little.
Conclusion: welfare has reduced poverty but has not removed inequality, so the statement is partly true.

Tips and tricks

The New Right and the Marxists both criticise the welfare state, for opposite reasons. Showing that you know the difference earns the top marks.
In a "to what extent" question, give both sides and then a judgement. A conclusion that only repeats the question earns nothing.

5 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

Have attempts to reduce inequality worked?: 5 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

Which group argues that welfare creates a dependency culture?
- Marxists
- feminists
- the New Right (the answer)
- NGOs
They say that generous benefits discourage work.
What is the "culture of poverty"?
- the art and music of poor countries
- the idea that the poor hold values that keep them poor and pass them to their children (the answer)
- a government benefit
- a type of NGO
Critics say it blames the poor for their poverty.
What is the Marxist criticism of the welfare state?
- it is too generous
- it should be run by charities
- it makes workers lazy
- it keeps workers quiet and leaves the ownership of wealth unchanged (the answer)
For Marxists, it protects capitalism.
What is the underclass, according to the New Right?
- a group at the bottom of society who depend on benefits in the long term (the answer)
- the lowest-paid factory workers
- people who work underground
- the middle class
The idea is criticised for blaming the poor.
Which evidence would best challenge the idea of a dependency culture?Stretch
- the cost of benefits has risen
- some people claim benefits for years
- most people on benefits say they want to work and take jobs when they are available (the answer)
- benefits are paid from taxes
If people want to work, the problem is a lack of jobs, not a lack of will.

5 questions

Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.

Worksheet

3 questions, 10 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.

Have attempts to reduce inequality worked?

Cambridge IGCSE Sociology 0495 · 10 marks · papermunch.org

Name ______________________________ Date ______________

What is meant by the term "dependency culture"?[2]
Show answerHide answer
A way of life in which people rely on state benefits and lose the motivation to support themselves through work.
I got this one
Describe the New Right view of the welfare state.[4]
Show answerHide answer
The New Right argue that welfare benefits are too generous. They create a dependency culture in which people rely on the state and do not work. This produces an underclass, cut off from the rest of society. They believe benefits should be reduced to encourage self-reliance.
I got this one
Explain the feminist criticism of equality legislation.[4]
Show answerHide answer
Feminists argue that laws on equal pay and discrimination have not produced equality. Women still earn less than men on average and are under-represented in top jobs. Laws do not change attitudes, are hard to enforce, and do nothing about the unequal share of housework and childcare.
I got this one

Answers: Have attempts to reduce inequality worked?

1. A way of life in which people rely on state benefits and lose the motivation to support themselves through work.
2. The New Right argue that welfare benefits are too generous. They create a dependency culture in which people rely on the state and do not work. This produces an underclass, cut off from the rest of society. They believe benefits should be reduced to encourage self-reliance.
3. Feminists argue that laws on equal pay and discrimination have not produced equality. Women still earn less than men on average and are under-represented in top jobs. Laws do not change attitudes, are hard to enforce, and do nothing about the unequal share of housework and childcare.