In your groups produce a mind map of the functionalist view of the family

Who are the New Right?What do they believe?What are the criticisms of the New

right perspective on the family

The New Right are usually conservative thinkers and politicians who believe very strongly in tradition.

They believe there was a once a ‘golden age’ of the family

The New Rights views on the family reflect a familial ideology

A set of ideas about what constitutes an ‘ideal’ family

They prefer the traditional nuclear family with a clear sexual division of labour

This ideology is transmitted by sections of the media, politicians & religious leaders.

“When it comes to effective socialisation, no alternative family structure comes close to the merits of two parents, formally married”

Charles Murray

Each group has a section on text you must create a poster from which to teach other students

15 words max and as may symbols /pictures as you wish

Speed date - moving round to the other tables and gaining the information from them

You will have 5 minutes with each table

Return to your group and teach them everything you have learnt

A political and academic approach to understanding society

It stresses that the government (which is paid for by hard-working tax payers) should not have to support people

They think individuals chose not to work and have made themselves unemployable

Increasing numbers of ‘young, healthy, low-income males choose not to take jobs’.

Many have grown up without a father and male wage earner

Female headed family are dependent on welfare benefits, the disciplines and responsibilities of mainstream society thus tend to break down

Evidence of Changes in the Family in recent years to support N.R claims:

- Increase in lone parent families- Increase in fatherless families- Increase in divorce rates- Increase in cohabitation- Increase in Gay and Lesbian Couples- Decrease in traditional nuclear

family

1)The breakdown of traditional family values

2) Over generous welfare benefits to single mothers which allow dads to opt out of their responsibilities for raising and providing for their kids

3)Influence of feminism has devalued marriage, domesticity and childrearing and encouraged women to seek fulfilment outside the home

4) Increased sexual permissiveness

5) Greater tolerance of gay and lesbian relationships as alternatives to heterosexual marriage

6) Equal opportunities policies

7) Contraceptive pill

8)1969 divorce law reform act

9)Nanny state = too many benefits given out, as if married to the state

Consequences The fragmented family fails to

adequately socialise children Children thus more likely to

underachieve at school and behave in anti-social ways

Over generous welfare benefits can lead to mothers becoming too dependent on the state and in effect are ‘married to the state’.

SolutionsImagine that you are part of the New Right, what three solutions would you produce to try and solve this problem of the decline in traditional family life?

ThinkPairShare

Solutions1. A return to traditional family values

e.g. life long marriage, recognition of the duties and responsibilities of parenthood

2. A change in government policy e.g. redirecting welfare benefits and social service provision to support and maintain two parent families

Why are some women single mothers?

Who supports single mother financially?

Do you agree the family is in decline?

The family and society is just changing, following the ways of the world, nothing will remain the same

New types of family don’t always have a negative impact on children as sometimes family separation is necessary for the well being of the child

TASK 1:Read through your handout make

notes on why the New Right oppose lone parent families.

TASK 2:Read the statements –Complete the grid to identifyIf it is a New Right/ Feministstatement

Use the handouts on Functionalism (p55)& the New Right (p61) to answer the essay questions

Complete your essay cover sheet with targets from the last essay you completed

Complete the question sheet, key terms, key sociologists and submit it with your essays

The New Right perspective emphasises the idea that lone-parent families are a burden upon society. Should the government look after them by taxing other people?