Familes and households- New right

Question 1

What is new right based on the idea of?

Answer 1

-The traditional nuclear family and its values are best for society

Question 2

What do new right theorists argue about social policies?

Answer 2

-Social policies on the family, children, divorce and the welfare have undermined the family

Question 3

What do they believe women’s roles should be?

Answer 3

-Expressive, bring children up to conform to norms and values, provide emotional care

Question 4

Why do they believe the nuclear family is under threat?

Answer 4

-Rising divorce rate
-More stepfamilies
-More lone parents
-Cohabitation as an alternative to marrige
-Births outside of marriage
-Gay marriage/civil partnership
-Welfare policies support relationships outside of the nuclear family

Question 5

What do these changes reflect?

Answer 5

-Social stability
-Lack of respect
-Anti-social behaviour
-Lack of discipline
-Educational underachievement
-Alcohol and drug abuse

Question 6

What do they argue the welfare state has undermined?

Answer 6

-Personal responsibility
-Self-help
-Importance of support from families

Question 7

Why do they not support lone-parent families?

Answer 7

-Encourages single women to have children even if they can’t afford it \
-Creates a dependency culture and underclass which leads to wider social problems

Question 8

What do they think we should do to return to normal family values?

Answer 8

-Change government policies
-Measures put in place to reduce divorce+ births outside of marriage and benefits
-Make these things less attractive
-Policies to help traditional families

Question 9

What are the criticisms of the new right?

Answer 9

-See functional criticisms