The New Right Perspective Flashcards
How do the New Right see traditional family life?
As being under threat from social change e.g the rising divorce rate, more stepfamilies, more lone parents, cohabitation, births outside marriage and welfare state policies that support relationships outside the conventional nuclear family.
Argue these undermine the social stability and point to lack of respect and anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, dependency on welfare benefits.
What is Murray and Marsland’s view?
Welfare state has undermined personal responsibility and self-help.
Believe welfare support for lone parents encourages single women to have children they couldn’t otherwise afford, knowing they will get help from benefits.
Believe decline of traditional family as contributing to the emergence of a dependency culture and a work-shy underclass.
Criticisms of the New Right perspective
Similar to those of the functionalist perspective.
How do New Right theorists see the nuclear family?
As performing important functions in securing social stability, through providing emotional security for children, socialising them into the culture of society and establishing respect and conformity to norms and values
