Family: New Right

Question 1

New Right

Answer 1

Sociological perspective. Combines neoliberal economics with neoconservative views on social issues - traditional views on family life, morality, law and order

Question 2

New Right view on nuclear family

Answer 2

Normal, the default, the cornerstone of society.

performing important functions for securing social stability through:

providing emotional support for children

socialising them into the culture of society and establishing respect and conformity to social norms and values.

Question 3

Boris Johnson

Answer 3

In an article for the Spectator in 1995 he slagged off the children of single mothers as ‘ill-raised, ignorant, aggressive and illegitimate’

Question 4

John Major

Answer 4

Called for a return to traditional family values int he 1992 election

Question 5

Charles Murray

Answer 5

The welfare state has created a culture of dependency: people rely on benefits and become workshy.

Especially concerned with single mothers - the welfare state perverse incentives for women to have children they cannot afford - so they rely on the welfare state

So generations of young boys grew up without male role models and without the example of paid employment

This contributes to the development of an underclass with high levels of lone parenthood and family instability, which contributes to social problems: drugs, alohol and crime.

Question 6

Culture of Dependency

Answer 6

A set of nroms, values, beliefs, way of life that encurage dependence on tohers, and dependence on the welfare state

Question 7

Underclass

Answer 7

A social group at the bottom of society, that is cut off from mainstream society due to unemployment, lack of skills, income, wealth or property.

littered and unkempt homes, drunken, the men were unable to hold down a job, and the children were uneducated, ill behaved, and becoming juvenile delinquents

Question 8

John Redwood

Answer 8

‘the natural state should be two parents taking care of their children”

Especially critical of young single mothers - welfare state encourages lone parenthood and the creation of the underclass

Question 9

Dennis

Answer 9

we need nuclear families, because without it, boys do not have role models due to families splitting up, leading to them becoming delinquent.

He supports this using statistics which show most delinquent boys dome from a broken family background.

Question 10

New Right policies

Answer 10

Section 28

Child Support agency (1993)

Marriage tax allowance changes 1988 - prevents cohabiting couples from benefitting from between tax allowances than married couples

Question 11

Abbott and Wallace

Answer 11

Feminists that criticised the New Right. See it as a form of patriarchy.

Attacks on single parent families imply that a woman’s place is in the home.

Question 12

Marcus Rashford

Answer 12

Grew up with a single mother yet he is successful, talented and does charity work: campaigns against racism, poverty and child hunger, for free school meals

So lone single mothers ≠ delinquent, underclass

Question 13

Statistics - lone parent families 1970-2011

Answer 13

1970: 8% lone parent households

2011: 22% lone parent households

16% Increase

Question 14

Statistics - 2 parent families married or cohabiting 1970-2011

Answer 14

1970: 92% two parent families- married or cohabiting

2011: 78% two parent families- married or cohabiting

14% decrease

Question 15

Statistics - women cohabiting with a partner 1970-2011

Answer 15

1970: 11% of women cohabiting with a partner

2011: 34% women cohabiting with a partner

23% increase