A Level Sociology Component 1 - Families and Households - NEW RIGHT KEY THINKERS

What do Functionalists put emphasis on that has been taken up by New Right Realists?

The functionalists emphasis on the value of the nuclear family

How do New Right Realists view the nuclear family?

As the most natural, normal and desirable structure

What have New Right Realists been critical of?

Alternatives to the nuclear family ideal.

What do New Right Realists think about the growth of lone parent families?

It is dysfunctional for both the individual and society

Murray - What do New Right Realists believe about the nuclear family?

It is the ideal family type for society

Murray - According to New Right Realists, how should all children be raised?

By married heterosexual parents

Murray - What should these married heterosexual parents abide by?

The traditional instrumental and expressive roles

Murray - What do instrumental and expressive roles mean?

• Instrumental - male fathers in full time employment who provide financially for their families and act as strong role models for male children 

• Expressive - female full time mothers are nurturing and provide socialisation, ensuring the state has minimal involvement in family life

Murray - Where do New Right Realists believe most problems in society stem from?

The decline of the traditional nuclear family 

Murray - What do New Right Realists believe is bad for society and the individual?

Other family types. 

Murray - In particular, what family type is bad for society and the individual?

Single parent families 

Murray - What type of culture does the single parent family represent?

A culture of idleness, laziness and fecklessness 

Murray - How does Murray see single parent families?

As being part of a dangerous underclass in society 

Murray - Murray believes the underclass are made up of individuals from what?

Single parent families. Welfare dependant families. Deviant and criminal backgrounds. 

Murray - What does Murray state the nuclear family should be in?

The private sphere 

Murray - According to Murray, how should the nuclear family be?

Totally self sufficient 

Murray - Due to the decline of the traditional family, what does Murray believe this has led to?

The government becoming a nanny state and completing functions that should be fulfilled by the family 

Murray - In Murray’s view, what do alternative families not do?

Adequately socialise their children into the shared norms and values.

Murray - Due to inadequate socialisation, what does this cause?

A cycle of welfare dependency and deviant behaviour

Murray - What does Murray highlight?

The damaging effect single parent families can have on children. Especially boys who suffer from absent fathers as there is only one parent socialising them

Murray - What percentage of single parent families are matrifocal? 

85%

Murray - Due to the high numbers of female headed families, what is the consequence for young boys?

There is no positive male role model to show young boys the key male breadwinner role, meaning they may turn to their peers to learn about masculinity 

Murray - Without a father in the instrumental role, what does this mean for the family?

They won’t have a sufficient income and rely on benefits. They then become welfare dependant 

Murray - What may happen to young males who are in support of providing for the family?

They may turn to crime, such as theft and drug dealing to make money 

Murray - Additional Reading - What have Murray’s ideas been exceptionally influential on?

Social policy 

Murray - Additional Reading - What did the 2012 Coalition government introduce?

The troubled families programme 

Murray - Additional Reading - What did the programme identify?

120,000 households who

• Are involved in crime and deviance 

• Have children who persistently truant 

• Have adults who have never worked or long term unemployment 

• Are a high cost to the public purse 

Murray - Additional Reading - Why was this programme introduced?

As it claimed that the so called ‘chaotic lifestyles’ cost the tax payer £9 billion annually

Murray - Additional Reading - In 2014, what did the government claim it was able to do?

Turn around the lives of many of those involved, getting them jobs and their children into school

Murray - Additional Reading - What does data suggest?

¾ of those supposedly turned around are still committing crime and being excluded from school

Murray - What do Dennis and Erdos claim that children, especially boys require?

A male role model 

Murray - According to Dennis and Erdos, what happens to men who have grown up in single parent families?

They are less likely to be responsible for their own children and more likely to be anti social

Murray Evaluation - What does Cashmore argue?

It is quality, rather than quantity of parents that matters. And, that one type of family is not necessarily better than other. For example, children’s well being can suffer from two parents who are at conflict. This shows alternative family types such as single parent families and reconstituted families can be more beneficial for all members 

Murray Evaluation - What does Walker argue there is no evidence for?

The existence of an underclass, and his ideas have become exaggerated. The underclass does not have a homogenous culture ; not all single parent families adopt such negative viewpoints. For example not all single parent families depend on welfare support. Many push their children to do well in education and effectively socialise them into shared norms and values 

MURRAY FINISHED

MURRAY FINISHED

Amato - What does Amato state the family break down does?

Increases the risks to children 

Amato - What happens to children who are in single parent families?

They face greater risks of poverty, educational failure, crime and health problems. As well as an increased chance of future family breakdown when they become adults 

Amato - What have conservative politicians and New Rights thinkers used?

Such evidence (in the flashcard above) to support the view that both the family and society at large are broken

Amato - What do conservative politicians and New Right thinkers argue?

That a return to traditional values, including the value of marriage, is necessary to prevent social disintegration and damage to children

Amato - What has family breakdown and the increase in lone parent families led to, and what does this mean for the working population?

More spending on welfare benefits. As this has to be paid for out of public funds, it places a bigger tax burden on the working population 

Amato - What do high levels of taxation and benefits act as? 

Perverse incentives - that is, they punish responsible behaviour and reward irresponsible behaviour 

Amato Evaluation - What would Radical Feminist Oakley argue?

That the new right wrongly assume that husbands and wives roles are fixed by biology. For Oakley, cross cultural studies show great variation in the role men and women perform within the family. The new right view of the family is a negative reaction against the feminist campaign for women’s equality 

Amato Evaluation - What would Postmodernists Stacey’s work directly criticise? 

The new right, highlighting the need to examine the role and purpose of the family on an individual level, not societal level due to increased freedom and flexibility in a postmodern society. She highlights how women are becoming drivers to family change due to increased opportunities. Consequently, women are shaping family diversity today 

AMATO FINISHED

AMATO FINISHED

Denzin - What does Denzin adopt?

A postmodern perspective

Denzin - Although he adopts a postmodern perspective, what does he support?

Murray's ideas around the rise in single parent families and increased family diversity and the negative impacts this has on children 

Denzin - What does Denzin note?

How increasing numbers of children are now cared for by someone other than a parent, such as : child minders and nurseries 

Denzin - Now that children are being cared for by someone other than a parent, what does he argue has happened to the process of primary socialisation?

It is being broken down and interrupted, negatively impacting the social norms and values of children today 

Denzin - What else does Denzin note about the presence of television and media outputs in the home?

The post modern child is ‘cared for by the television set, in conjunction with the day care centre’ 

Denzin - What concept does Denzin use?

Electronic babysitter

Denzin Evaluation - What would liberal feminists suggest?

That with the improved legislative changes, there has been increased opportunities for women to work outside the home. Therefore, its not better for women to work, in particular lone parent women tend to be welfare dependant and rely upon the nanny side.