new right views - role of family

who are the 2 people linked to the new right?

Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan

what type of perspective is it?

political idea and sociological perspective

what viewpoints does it combine?

neo-liberal economics with conservative views on social issues

what’s neo-liberal economics?

privatisation and competition

what are the 2 things new right say in relation to families?

1) nuclear family is the bedrock of society

2) nuclear family is being undermined by government policy and social attitudes

who is the main sociologist linked to new rights views on the family?

charles murray

what are his 2 views on the welfare state?

• it has created a dependancy culture where the underclass live in benefits with no aspirations to work

• it offers perverse incentives (e.g. teen pregnancies are rewarded with council houses)

what does perverse incentives mean?

reward for irresponsible behaviour

what does the economic function of the family being carried out by the state mean for it? (2 points)

• there is no incentive to work/ keep family together as state will provide benefits

• there are incentives to have large families as more children = more benefits

why does he see female headed families as inadequate for socialising children?

women lack discipline - boys will fail in education and become delinquent

what does delinquent mean?

commit crime

who does the theory blame for poverty?

the poor

what do marxists say on the new rights perspective?

it’s a way to justify capitalist properties (cutting welfare spending)

what do feminists say?

matrifocal families are scapegoated for structural inequalities in society (e.g. poverty)

what are 2 more critisms? (g.o.t)

• single parents are more likely to end up in poverty even when working as of a lack of dual income

• is focuses on traditional values which margenalises certain groups in society (e.g. children born to unmarried families are seen as inferior)