New right Flashcards
The New Right
AO1: The New Right is a Conservative political perspective that advocates for traditional family values, similar to functionalists. They argue that the nuclear family (a heterosexual couple with children) is the ‘proper’ family structure and believe it is the most natural and effective way of raising children to become responsible, law-abiding adults. The New Right proposes state policies that would encourage people to live in traditional family structures, such as reducing welfare benefits for single mothers to discourage births outside of marriage. They view men as having an instrumental role (providing financially), while women should focus on the expressive role (nurturing and caring for the children). They are critical of feminism, seeing women’s movement into paid work as a threat to traditional family roles and the moral fabric of society.
AO2: A contemporary example of the New Right perspective is the TradWife movement, where women embrace traditional, submissive roles within marriage, often leaving careers to focus on home-making and child-rearing. These women align with New Right values, such as the belief that “a woman’s place is in the home,” and advocate for the husband to be the primary decision-maker in the family. This movement echoes the New Right’s views on the natural roles of men and women in the family structure.
Murray-
AO1: Murray argues that overgenerous welfare benefits have created a culture of dependency, where people rely on benefits rather than work. He believes this has led to a growing “underclass,” who do not aspire to work and instead live off state support. Murray also claims that single-parent families, which he views as harmful to both individuals and society, are the result of these welfare benefits, creating a “perverse incentive” that encourages irresponsible behaviour, such as having children without being able to support them. He believes that abolishing welfare benefits would reduce dependency and prevent the breakdown of the traditional nuclear family.
AO2: An example of Murray’s view can be seen in his critique of “Benefits Britain,” where he argues that individuals in this underclass culture are socialised into low aspirations, often leading to dropping out of school and resorting to crime.
AO3: Feminists criticise Murray’s views, claiming they are oppressive and fail to recognise the negative aspects of traditional family roles, which can sometimes contribute to violence against women. They also argue that single parenthood is not typically the result of seeking welfare benefits, but often follows separation or divorce. Furthermore, austerity measures have reduced welfare payments, yet the number of single-parent families has remained steady, challenging Murray’s claim. Additionally, the New Right perspective overlooks the role of fathers who may still be involved in their children’s lives despite not living in the same household. Research shows that children in single-parent families often fare as well as those in nuclear families. Lastly, the New Right stigmatises fathers in poorer families without acknowledging that fathers in middle-class families can also neglect their children due to career pressures.
