the new right & THE 'GOLDEN AGE' OF FAMILY

The New Right sociologists argue that the family is decline, and has been since the 60's/70's.  They point to social policies such as the legalisation of abortion, and the availability of contraceptives from the NHS as reasoning for this decline.  The sexual freedom that women gained from these social policies has led to a lesser commitment to forming a family. As well as this, increasing education and career opportunities have distracted women from starting a family. They do not agree with the 1969 divorce act which made divorce more available as an option, and is seen as undermining the sancity of marriage. They also see family diversity, such as same sex couples as a negative influence on the family structure. 

Their preferred family structure is the traditional nuclear family, they believe this family structure is the 'right' family structure for society and anything else is deviant and wrong. 

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STATE POLICIES

State policies tend to reinforce the ideology of the nuclear family.

• Tax and welfare policies have generally favoured and encouraged heterosexual married couples, rather than cohabiting couples, single parents and same sex couples. Allan (1985) goes as far to suggest that these policies actively discouraged cohabitation and one-parent families.
• Policies such as the payment of child benefits to the mother have reinforced the idea that the woman is the primary caregiver to children.
• The fact that the government didnt coordinate a set of family policies till 1999 proves the fact that the government see the family as a private function, and their reluctance to intervene.

Despite all this, new right thinkers still believe that grave dangers have been inflicted on the nuclear family by misguided government policy. For example, they claim that governments encourage mothers to go back to work after having children, instead of staying at home and caring for their children. They argue that this will lead to generations of children who have experienced maternal deprivation. The New Right also argue that the government have also weakened the sancity of marriage, and made divorce far too easy to obtain. The New Right also argue that deviant families such as single parents are supported and encouraged far too much by state policies.

POST-1997 FAMILY POLICIES

Government parties, particularly Labour have recognised that family structures are changing and appropiate policies have been put in place. Some parties no longer condemn single mothers, and appreciate that these families exist and offer the appropiate help. Labour has also recognised that men are no longer the sole breadwinner, and acknowledge that alot of women are also working. Lewis (2007) notes that labour has;

• Invested in subsidaries for nursery childcare
• lengthened maternity care from 14 weeks to 9 months
• almost doubled maternity pay
• introduced the right for parents to young children to ask for flexible working patterns from their employers.

Some sociologists such as the new right criticise these policies, saying that it is encouraging women to step away from the family and lead their own lives - and removing the nuclear family function. Some also argue that it is too interfering, and that the government dont need to interfere in the private function of the family.

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