New Right Theory Of The Family

Question 1

Three principles of the New Right

Answer 1

• too much state intervention in ordinary people’s lives and this has resulted in a ‘nanny’ state which attempts to govern our health
• the welfare state has resulted in welfare dependency because welfare acts denies its recipients a sense of social worth . Supposedly destroys the desire to escape from poverty
• the free market is better and more cost- efficient

Question 2

The nuclear family under attack

Answer 2

Recommend that :
Parents should be married
Mothers should stay at home
Families shouldn’t receive benefits

Question 3

State social policy has attacked the nuclear family

Answer 3

• encouraged women to abandon their family responsibilities
• weakened family life
• undermined marriage by making divorce easier
• resulted in too many families becoming dependent on benefits
• undermined morality by promoting sex education in schools, homosexuality and adoption
• should do more to discourage cohabition

Question 4

Murray (1990)

Answer 4

Claims that underclass engages in ‘deplorable’ behaviour - committing crimes, having illegitimate children and failing to socialise its offspring properly.

Question 5

Evaluation :has social policy damaged the family

Answer 5

Social policy has largely supported both marriage and the nuclear family :
Tax and welfare policies have generally favoured heterosexual marries couples
Government ministers frequently make reference to the idea of the nuclear family being the best
Payment of child benefit to the mother and the government’s reluctance to totally fund free universal nursery care have reinforced that women have to take responsibility for children

Question 6

familial ideology

Answer 6

Familial ideology is mainly made up of a set of ideas about how family life should be organised - nuclear family being the most stable etc

Question 7

Feminist evaluation

Answer 7

Familial ideology is patriarcal because it restricts women to the home
Over-idealises the nuclear family and distracts from the ‘dark side;
Portrays divorce in a negative way
Has led to the idea that the family is a private institution but has meant child abuse is ignored

Question 8

New right view of equal opportunities

Answer 8

Legislation such as the equal opportunities act ( 1970) and the equal pay act (1975) have encouraged women to give up their expressive domestic roles as full time nurturers and instead pursue full time careers.