New Right Theory on the Family

Question 1

New Right View on Nuclear Family

Answer 1

• agree with Functionalists that the nuclear family is the ideal family type as it is based on biological differences between women and men and only within the nuclear family can the roles be performed.

Question 2

Why is the Ideal Nuclear Family in Crisis?

Answer 2

• increase in lone parent families
• increasing divorce rates and cohabitation
• increase in same sex families
• too generous welfare benefits
• the influence of feminism which has devalued marriage
  To solve these problems New Right recommend that all parents must be married, mothers should stay at home and families must not receive benefits

Question 3

Murray

Answer 3

As a result of these changes there are now two groups in society: 
 1. Underclass - unemployed single mothers who are dependent on benefits and therefore a threat to society. They can not socialise their children properly so the children fail in education and turn to crime. At the same time the men who have fathered these children do not have to work as they have no family to support so they become dependent on benefits and become anti social. 
This creates a DEPENDENCY CULTURE
2. New Victorians - respectable middle class who work, pay taxes, marry and socialise their children properly.

Question 4

Criticisms of New Right

Answer 4

• ignores that some nuclear families fail to socialise their children properly
• Feminists argue this view is sexist: they ignore the act that with the rising costs of living a mans income is not enough to support a family so womens work is essential
• cutting benefits for lone mothers would make children suffer