New Right Theory Of Social Inequalities Flashcards
- INEQUALITY MUST OCCUR TO ENCOURAGE COMPETITION
SAUNDERS -
-a society based on social equality would only be possible if considerable force were used.
-it is right that everyone enjoys legal equality but rejects equality of outcomes which involves everyone being rewarded in the same way whether they deserve it or not.
-this means that a degree of inequality is desirable and functional in order to motivate people to compete.
-critical of the attempts by left-wing governments, he argues that middle class children are probably more able and intelligent and deserve to do better than working class children.
- IF WORK IS DONE TO TRY AND EQUALISE SOCIETY, INDIVIDUALS BECOME COMPLACENT.
MURRAY -
-US government policies create a dependency culture for the poorer and unemployed, lone parent families.
-they depend on benefits as they have no motivation to benefit themselves within society (underclass)
-they poorly socialised their children who would then underachieve in education and turn to crime.
-he found that Britain was also developing this
- THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO WORK HARD WITHOUT INEQUALITY IN SOCIETY DUE TO THE WELFARE STATE
MARSLAND -
-also uses the concept of dependency culture which the welfare state creates as the welfare systems incentivise reliance on state support rather than fostering personal responsibility, work ethic and initiative which therefore traps people in poverty and prevents social mobility.
-dependency culture leads to a decline in moral standards, weakens the family structure and contributes to social problems such as crime, substance abuse and educational failure.
-people should take responsibility of their own lives and Murray encourages competition, personal growth and responsibility
- THOSE FROM HIGHER SOCIAL CLASS GROUPS ARE PART OF THE COGNITIVE ELITE SO DO BETTER THAN THOSE FROM LOWER SOCIAL CLASSE
HERRNSTEIN AND MURRAY-
-intelligence often measured by IQ plays a big role in determining people’s education, income and overall social status
-society is becoming more divided based on intelligence as people have better access to opportunities and resources.
-the divide makes it harder for people from lower social classes to improve their situations.
-intelligence can influence educational and job opportunities which can lead to better socioeconomic status
- SINGLE MOTHERS ARE UNABLE TO SOCIALISE THEIR CHILDREN INTO SHARED VALUES
MURRAY-
-blames single parent mothers
-its functional for women to fulfil th housewife role
-rising birth rates outside of marriage, crime and youth unemployment are all signs of irresponsible attitudes in the underclass which affect certain neighbourhoods
- MATRIACHAL HOUSEHOLDS ENCOURAGE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR
DENNIS AND ERDOS -
-matriachal backgrounds undermine traditional family structures as they believe that such structures prioritise male authority and stable, two parent families which they see as the foundation of social order and the proper upbringing of children.
-fatherlessness and decline of paternal involved negatively impacts a boy’s development.
-matriarchal family structures lead to the weakened role of men, impact children and there is a social and moral decline
- WOMEN ARE GENETICALLY DESIGNED TO BE CAREGIVERS AND SHOULD FEEL PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THIS ROLE
SCHLAFLY -
-women should not be going out of their way to find work as this shows a lack of responsibility towards their natural roles
-‘Marriage and motherhood have their trials and tribulations, but what lifestyle doesn’t? The flight from home is a flight from self, from responsibility, from the nature of women, in pursuit of false hopes and fading fantasies’
- A WOMEN’S ROLE IN THE FAMILY IS VITAL TO A SMOOTH RUNNING SOCIETY
SUPPORT WITH THATCHER -
-she upheld traditional values and subscribed to many conservative ideals about the family and the roles of men and women within it.
-believed that a stable family, with a male breadwinner and female homemaker was vital to a healthy, functioning society.
-she also supported domestic roles as her government pursued conservative economic reforms
-her economic policies emphasised individual responsibility and a reduced welfare state, arguably hit working class women hardest and those relying on social services or working in public sector jobs.
-there was no promotion of policies to address of wage inequality, childcare or other issues that disproportionately affected women.
- CULTURAL DIFFERENCES CONTRIBUTE TO ETHNIC INEQUALITIES
SUPPORT WITH MODOOD ET AL -
-some ethnic groups face language barriers which reduce their employment chances.
-⅗ Bangladeshi women did not speak english
-Half of Pakistani women did not speak English
-⅕ of Pakistani and Bangladeshi men did not speak english
-south Asian women are frequently portrayed as passive victims and they tend to have poorer educational qualifications than men. Pakistani and Bangladeshi women have the lowest economic activity
-disadvantages are linked to cultural traditions
- INEQUALITIES FACED BY ETHNIC MINORITES ARE DUE TO RISING RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT
MURRAY-
-underclass is growing and black youths are less likely to gain employment due to a change in welfare reform
-benefits discourage the black youths from working
-the homes of these people were littered and unkempt.
-children grew up ill-schooled and ill-behaved leading to rising rates of illegitimacy and crime
- LONE PARENTING RESULTS IN ETHNIC MINORITY CHILDREN BECOMING MORE LIKELY TO PARTAKE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES
SEWELL-
-a high proportion of black boys are raised in single parent families, in 2001 57% o black families with dependent families were headed by lone parents, impaired to 25% of white families.
-this caused black boys to lack the male role model and discipline provided by a father figure.
- INEQUALTITIES ARE NOT A RESULT OF STRUCTURAL RACISM BUT RATHER THE RESULT OF CULTURAL VALUES, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM
SOWELL-
-ethnic inequalities are caused by cultural factors: different ethnic groups having different values, government intervention: polices doing more harm than good and welfare hindering progression,inaccurate comparisons of different ethnic groups successes and fostering victimhood mentalities: framing ethnic minority groups as victims of racism undermines their potential for success and encourages help on external factors.
