Evaluate the New Right perspective on the family

[P1] What is the main argument of P1?

The New Right argues the nuclear family is essential because it provides effective socialisation and social stability

[P1] What did Parsons argue?

Family performs two irreducible functions — primary socialisation of children and stabilisation of adult personalities — through segregated conjugal roles.

[P1] What did Murray argue about father absence?

Father absence creates an "underclass" characterised by crime and welfare dependency, using case studies of inner-city America in the 1980s as evidence.

[P1] What did Dennis and Erdos argue?

Claim boys without fathers lack discipline and positive male role models, leading to behavioural problems and social disorder.

[P1] What is the New Right's broader sociological argument about the family and social control?

The family as an agent of informal social control which prevents anomie and social disorder. Effective socialisation reproduces value consensus and social solidarity across generations

What is the P1 evaluation?

Feminists challenge the New Right by arguing it idealises the nuclear family and ignores the patriarchy and exploitation within it

What did Stacey argue in P1 evaluation?

Found postmodern families could socialise children successfully without traditional gender roles.

[P1 evaluation] What did Delphy and Leonard argue?

Women perform unpaid domestic labour which materially benefits men, showing the nuclear family is a site of exploitation

[P1 evaluation] What did Oakley find in her research?

Research with London housewives found many women experienced domestic work as isolating rather than fulfilling

What is the main argument of P2?

The New Right argues increasing family diversity has undermined social cohesion and traditional values

[P2] What did Murray argue about lone-parent families?

Lone-parent families encourage welfare dependency and weaken children's socialisation, contributing to the formation of an underclass.

[P2] What did Morgan argue?

Claims rising divorce and family diversity contribute to educational failure and anti-social behaviour, seeing family diversity as a driver of moral decline.

[P2] What did Dennis and Erdos argue?

Traditional nuclear families provide the clearest structure for children

[P2 analysis] What is the New Right's broader argument about family diversity and moral decline?

The New Right believes social stability depends on a dominant family norm. Increased family diversity produces moral decline and social fragmentation.

What is the P2 evaluation?

Postmodernists reject the idea that one family structure should dominate.

[P2 evaluation] What did Rapoport and Rapoport argue?

Identified multiple forms of family diversity in modern society — organisational, cultural, class-based, life-stage and cohort diversity

[P2 evaluation] What did Weeks find about same-sex families?

often created non-biological supportive and equal relationships, directly countering the New Right's claim that non-traditional families are inherently less stable or damaging.

[P2 evaluation] What did Smart argue?

Sociologists should focus on family practices and relationship quality rather than assuming nuclear families are automatically superior to other family forms.

What is the main argument of P3?

The New Right argues modern social changes — secularisation, feminism and welfare expansion — have weakened the traditional family

[P3] What did Murray argue about welfare benefits?

Welfare benefits reduce personal responsibility by making lone parenthood economically sustainable

(P3) What did Gilder argue?

Claims declining marriage rates have reduced male responsibility and commitment to fatherhood, arguing that without the structure of marriage men lack motivation to be responsible providers.

[P3] What did Morgan argue?

Argues feminism weakened traditional gender roles and increased family instability

[P3] What is the New Right's broader argument about individualism and secularisation?

The New Right believes modern society has shifted from collective responsibility towards individualism and self-interest, weakening long-term commitment to marriage

What is the P3 evaluation?

Feminists argue these social changes improved women's freedom and reduced oppression rather than damaging society.

[P3 evaluation] What did Beck argue?

Individualisation has allowed people greater choice over relationships and family life

[P3 evaluation] What did Giddens argue?

Modern relationships are increasingly based on mutual satisfaction rather than obligation — his concept of the "pure relationship"