Critically Analyse How Culture Effects Organisations and the People Working in Them

The interpretations and explanations of social problems have important implications for the kind of social policies adopted by governments to tackle these problems. Discuss with reference to one of the following:

Poverty and social exclusion

Crime and antisocial behaviour

Inequalities in education

This assignment will discuss theories and causes behind crime and antisocial behaviour with regards to social inequalities. It will also discuss how the introduction of social policy and the welfare state was reformed through the findings of The Beveridge Report. The implications and explanations will be discussed with regards, to the implementation of social policies which have been adopted by the government in order to eradicate such problems.

One theory comes from Howard Becker (1963) and is concerned with the notion of labelling. Becker's study looks at the ways in which society will label certain people and activities as deviant, for example, homosexuality. When a homosexual is deprived of his/her chosen career, because of their so called deviant behaviour, they may then be forced to enter into a different career, one where their behaviour is accepted and not labelled deviant. (Giddens, 1990)

Becker's theory is primarily concerned with the effects of crime rather than the reasons crimes are committed. However, this theory does raise important questions, such as who decides what behaviour is deviant, who enforces the laws and whose interests do they serve?

Labelling theory believes that the above is a "question of political and economic power… rules are made for young people by their elders". (Becker, 1963: 17) For Becker then, whoever makes and enforces the rules, controls the concept of deviant behaviour.

An example of labelling using types of crime is theft, burglary and muggings, all are associated with the working class. Becker suggests that a lot of these types of crime are reported, therefore statistics in these areas are very high. It can be suggested that lower income families and the working class are usually more prominent in the inner cities, where policing is more prevalent, therefore giving the police more opportunities with which to catch such crimes.

The above nicely links us to Government statistics which show that 21 per cent of all 10 to 17 years olds arrested in 1998 had had from three to nine previous convictions compared to 28 per cent of 18 to 34 and 22 per cent of 35 to 54 year olds. The average duration of arrest for a young offender in 2005 was 65 days and in 2000 a massive 105,000 people between the ages of 10 and 17 were cautioned on indictable offences with a further 56,000 for summary offences. (Wilson et al, 2006)

Becker suggests that youth crime comes from the fact that young people are less likely to achieve socially important goals set by society by either economic or legitimate means. Compounding this is the fact that they hold the least power and influence over the making of rules, or the deciding of reasonable behaviour within society.

Interactionists such as Becker, tend to focus on information which demonstrates the various ways that individuals understand and interpret deviant behaviour. They do not give an account as to why some people's behaviour is seen as deviant, when other people's view of it, would be seen as the norm. Further, this theory looks at society on a micro scale, it reduces the issues to an individual level and larger forces, such as environment, are ignored (Becker 1963)

In 1942 a report was published on Social Insurance and Allied Services which is now known as The Beveridge report. Sir William Beveridge identified five main areas of concern which he termed ‘five giant evils' (want meaning poverty, disease, squalor meaning poor housing, idleness meaning unemployment and ignorance meaning lack of education.) His aim was to eradicate these problems. These were tackled in various ways when the labour government of 1945-1951 implemented the proposals through different acts of parliament. The conservatives then came into power in 1951 and continued with the new social reformation and welfare policies of labour. Employment was at all time high; education was free and had improved peoples employment prospects. Housing and living conditions had significantly improved, and for those in need a there was a safety net, the benefit system and an efficient health service (NHS). The notion of universal provision was the basis of a welfare state, however governments like Thatcher emphasised individuals taking responsibility for themselves, and provide for their own families rather then relying on the state. Her policies were aimed at the creation of a more dynamic economy in order to generate