Family and Households - The new right Flashcards
What did New Right thinkers argue in the 1980s regarding government policy?
Government policy was undermining the family, and policy changes were needed.
Their thinking dominated policy development from 1979 to 1997.
What is the New Right’s view on the ‘correct’ family type?
The traditional or conventional nuclear family.
This view is shared with Functionalists.
How does the New Right perceive the traditional family?
As ‘natural’ and based on fundamental biological differences between men and women.
They see it as the cornerstone of society.
What do New Right thinkers argue is the cause of many social problems?
The decline of the traditional family and the growth of family diversity.
They link these to higher crime rates and declining moral standards.
What type of home do the New Right believe is important for children?
A stable home with a married mother and father.
Ideally, the wife should stay at home to look after the children.
What cultural change do the New Right attribute to the introduction of the welfare state?
A culture of dependence on hand-outs from the state.
They argue this encourages single parenting.
What was the purpose of the Back to Basics campaign launched by the conservative government in 1993?
To encourage a return to traditional family values.
It faced criticism for being unsuccessful and hypocritical.
What is the rate of family breakdown among married couples compared to non-married couples?
6% among married couples compared to 20% among non-married couples.
How much more likely are children from broken homes to develop emotional problems?
Almost five times more likely.
Children whose parents split up are how many times more likely to become aggressive or badly behaved?
Three times as likely.
What is the poverty rate comparison between lone-parent families and two-parent families?
Lone-parent families are more than twice as likely to live in poverty.
Children from broken homes are how many times more likely to become young offenders?
Nine times more likely.
What do critics argue about the New Right’s view on the decline of the nuclear family?
They exaggerate the decline; most adults still marry and have children.
According to critics, how are gender roles viewed in relation to feminism?
Gender roles are socially determined rather than fixed by biology.
Why do critics argue that easier divorce is beneficial?
It prevents women from being trapped in unhappy or abusive relationships.
What do most single parents want in terms of employment?
Most want to work but find it difficult to find flexible jobs for balancing work and childcare.
What does Chester argue about the New Right’s claims regarding cohabiting and single-parent families?
They exaggerate the extent; most children still spend most of their lives in a nuclear family arrangement.
