5. New Right Families and households Flashcards
What is the New Right also known as
political functionalism
neo-functionalism
it’s an extension of the functionalist approach
what do the New Right believe
conservative perspective whose supporters believe self-reliance and individual choice, rather than dependence on the state
What do New Right assume?
There was once a ‘golden age’ of family, which is under attack from social policies, like legalising abortion, contraceptive pill ad equal pay, 1969 divorce reform act
What do the New Right believe about families
only one correct family, nuclear. family offers support
decline is a solid problem
welfare state is negative on society
deviant if not nuclear
what role does the man play in the family
instrumental bread winner
what role does the women play in the family
expressive role
peace keeper
what is their familial ideology
set of ideas about an ideal family transmitted by media religion and politicians
how is the new right being undermined by values of marriage and family
unmarried mothers have increased, supported by state and council housing
what can lack of male role models do to kids
boys get involved in anti social behaviour due to lack of discipline and inadequate socialisation
what are other threats to the New Right familial ideology
declining popularity if marriage
increased cohabitation
teen pregnancy
homosexuality
abortion
working mothers
how is non nuclear families a problem
rate of family break down is lower in marriages
children from broken homes are five times more likely to develop emotional problems
lone parent families are twice as likely to live in poverty
what is the main cause of lone parent families
cohabitation
marriage is more stable as it requires deliberate commitment
What did Benson 2006 say about cohabitation
parents of 15,000 babies, 1st year of baby life family break down was 20% in cohabitation
only 6% in married couples
What are some government policies to encourage marriage
2004 Taxation- allows marriages couples to joint pay
2012 Support £30 million funds for relationship support to avoid couples breakdown
What did Charles Murray argue
society is divided between new victorians and new rabble
new right thinkers and conservative politicians argue that both family and society are broken
Who were New Victorians
hardworking traditional and responsible families
Who were New Rabble
welfare dependent anti social families. growing underclass who are represented by single parenthood long term unemployment and criminality
What has the welfare state led to
dependency culture where underclass people live off benefits and have no aspirations to work for a living
teen girls see pregnancy as a way of financial support and housing
How does Murray criticise Murdock
Murdock argued how family was an economic function, but now this is performed by the state
What does the benefits system allow for families to do
not having any working parents
more children brings more money
better to have a large single parent family than a married small family
no incentive to keep families together anymore
What is Murray’s 3 solutions
- return to traditional family values to prevent social disintegration
- Supported by government policies
- Less generous welfare state
How is the New Right criticised?
Abbot and Wallace- return to traditional values reinstates patriarchal views
Poverty is the main cause to cohabitation, not marriage prevention
Blames the victim, more of a political perspective
What is the name of the family they believe in
cereal packet family
two married parents with a small number of children
Best form to provide a functioning family
What campaign was launched in 1993?
Back to Basics
encourage a return to traditional family values
unsuccessful, hypocrites as some MP’s were having affairs and divorcing etc
