Gender: New right

Question 1

New right view of gender:

Answer 1

• They believe that the nuclear family is under threat.
• They agree with functionalists that gender roles are biologically determined. - Men and women should play different roles in the family.
• They think that men’s role should be economical and political whereas women should take a more private role at home.

Question 2

Main reasons new right believe that the nuclear family is under threat:

Answer 2

• Young mothers are encouraged to be wives of the state – more women are claiming free housing and benefits to pay for children
• Feminism

Question 3

Schlafly:

Answer 3

• Women belong in the home because of their genetic makeup which means they shouldn’t be working and instead should be in a domestic role.
• She said that feminists are wrong because the majority of women actually don’t want to be liberated from the family. - Society hasn’t found a better way than the nuclear family to raise children, this is because having a division of labour is cost-efficient and children thrive on having their mother at home all of the time

Question 4

Reasons New right think that femnism is to balme for the family being under threat:

Answer 4

• feminists are hostile towards the nuclear family as they don’t see it as oppressive
• Feminists encourage women to believe that they don’t need a man to live - instead they just rely on benefits

Question 5

Evaluation of Schlafly:

Answer 5

• Ignores the effects of gender roles and the dark side of the family (domestic violence)
• Out-dated view as positive experiences from women taking part in non-traditional gender roles are now seen in a modern society.