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Agree or disagree FamilyWorkGovernment Essay #249
Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:

Parents, usually mothers, stay at home to look after their families. People believe that for this they should receive a salary from the government.

Do you agree or disagree and why?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Use the plan, then compare with Band 9.
274 words · 5 paragraphs
Introduction

Paraphrase topic (stay-at-home parents receiving government salary). State strong disagreement and mention potential negative effects.

It is a commonly held belief that parents, predominantly mothers, who dedicate their time to family care should be remunerated by the government. I wholeheartedly disagree with this notion, as I believe that the implications of such a policy would be far-reaching and potentially detrimental.

Body 1 · Reason 1

Topic sentence: Could unintentionally lessen the value of family roles. Explain: Turn selfless acts of love/care into business deals, harming emotional connections.

My first contention is that it could inadvertently devalue the intrinsic worth of familial roles. By monetizing tasks traditionally associated with love and care, we risk transforming these selfless acts into mere economic transactions. This could potentially erode the emotional bonds that underpin family life, as actions borne out of affection become quantified in monetary terms.

Body 2 · Reason 2

Topic sentence: Could put too much pressure on government resources. Explain: Need to raise taxes or shift budgets from vital services (education, healthcare).

Secondly, the implementation of such a policy could place an undue burden on the state's resources. Allocating funds to pay stay-at-home parents would necessitate either an increase in taxes or a reallocation of existing budgets. For instance, funds that could have been channeled into education or healthcare may be diverted to support this policy, thereby potentially compromising the quality of these essential services.

Body 3 · Reason 3

Topic sentence: Could unintentionally hinder gender equality. Explain: Financially encouraging women to stay home risks strengthening traditional roles. Contrast with policies promoting shared parenting (Scandinavian countries).

Lastly, this proposal could inadvertently discourage gender equality. By financially incentivizing women to stay at home, we risk reinforcing traditional gender roles and undermining efforts towards achieving parity in the workplace. This is exemplified by the Scandinavian countries, where policies aimed at promoting shared parental responsibilities have resulted in more balanced gender representation in the workforce.

Conclusion

Summarize main points (risks: turning family love into commodity, overstretching resources, promoting gender stereotypes). Restate firm belief against the policy.

In conclusion, while the intention to recognize the efforts of stay-at-home parents is commendable, I firmly believe that the potential drawbacks of such a policy outweigh the benefits. The risk of commodifying familial love, straining state resources, and perpetuating gender stereotypes are compelling reasons to oppose the notion of government-funded salaries for stay-at-home parents.

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