Outline and evaluate New Right views on family diversity Flashcards
point 1
New Right thinkers see the family as the cornerstone of society. They also see a ‘normal’ and ‘ideal’ family as the heterosexual nuclear family unit. They see the family structure changes as a concern about the state of the family.
example 1
Dennis and Erdos (1992) identified the rise in the number of children brought up without fathers as a worrying development. These children were invariably associated with antisocial behavior, criminality, delinquency, educational under-achievement and related social problems in greater proportions than their equivalent peers brought up in two-parent households.
explain 1
This shows that family diversity has a negative impact on society as it has led to children that act out against society, whereas before there was family diversity this wouldn’t happen
counter 1
Neale states that rising diversity leads to a less judgmental society as we become more accepting of all sorts of family structures and relationships and this reduces morality based judgements.
point 2.
New Right thinkers have pointed to the changes in the family away from the nuclear family as an indicator of a decline in moral standards.
example 2
New rights see Lone parent families, Fatherless families, High divorce rates, Cohabitation, Same-sex couples as the social changes leading to a breakdown in families, they argue this can have consequences such as a decline in traditional family values like life-long marriage and a recognition of duties and responsibilities of parenthood
explain 2
This shows that family diversity has a negative impact as it has led to a decline in family values that help society function properly.
counter 2
Nicholson contrasts what she calls the ‘traditional’ family with ‘alternative’ families . She believes that alternative families are often better than traditional ones for the women who live in them.
point 3
New right thinkers see a connection between one-parent families, educational underachievement and delinquency. It is argued that children in these families may lack self-discipline and be emotionally disturbed.
example 3
Murray has suggested that single parents are at the heart of a so-called ‘underclass’ that has appeared in the inner city and which is supposedly socializing its children into a culture revolving around crime and delinquency, anti-authority, anti-work and anti-family life.
explain 3
This shows that family diversity has a negative impact on society as it has created new family types like single parent families that socialise children into an underclass culture.
counter 3
Chester maintains that the dominant ideology which stresses the nuclear family ideal leads to negative labelling of one parent families by social agencies such as teachers, social workers, housing departments, police and courts which may result in a self fulfilling prophecy. He rejects the New Right assertion that inferior parenting is the cause of problems with children.
point 4
New rights argue that changes like The influence of feminism, Over-generous welfare benefits to single mothers and Greater tolerance of same-sex relationships has caused negative effects on society.
example 4
New rights argue The ‘fragmented family’ is no longer performing its functions effectively. It is failing to provide adequate socialisation. This can result in children and young people under-achieving at school and behaving in anti-social ways ranging from rudeness to criminality. In addition, over-generous welfare benefits can lead to welfare dependency or ‘scroungers’ off the state. Lone mothers are becoming dependent on state benefits.
explain 4
This shows that family diversity has a negative impact on society as it has led to a breakdown in families that socialise their children properly due to factors like missing fathers.
