1. Printing Print match-up worksheet ‘Fatherless Families’ New Right Perspective on families Positive and Negative New Right Sheet Miss S Brobbey

2. The New Right Theory on the Family 21/10/14 Learning Objective To study the debate between the negative view of lone parent families from the ‘New Right’ theory Learning Outcomes  All students will identify the reasons for the increase in lone-parent families.  Most students will outline the New Right views on nuclear and lone parent families.  Some students will consider the negative aspects of the New Right perspective Starter Tricky ‘It is important for all families to have a mum and a dad.’ Trickier ‘Mothers who go out to work are letting their children down.’ Trickiest ‘Children can do equally well in their life if they are brought up in a lone parent family.’ To what extent you agree or disagree with the statements? Write answers 10 mins

3. The New Right Perspective Think back to your assessment What are the main principles of the New Right Perspective? The New Right approach suggests that women should have the caring role within nuclear families while their husbands should have the breadwinner role. It views some changes in the family structures (such as increases in one-parent families and births outside marriage) as damaging to society. For example, children in ‘fatherless families’ are seen as being more prone to crime than other children. Extension: In politics which political party would the New Right view be in line with? A: Conservative (Right Wing) Miss S Brobbey 3 mins

4. Task 1 Reasons for the increase in the number of lone parent families On your sheet Match the reason for the increase in the number of lone parent families with the explanation. Miss S Brobbey

5. Reasons for the increase in the number of lone parent families Increase in divorce Increased opportunities for women to work Changes in social attitudes Increase in secularisation Introduction of the Welfare system Religion tells people how to behave. Most religions ban pre-marital sex and teach it is a sin. However, as more people abandon religion or become less strict religious rules lose their influence. Consequently, women are more likely to have pre-marital sex and keep the baby if they become pregnant. Following a breakdown of marriage, judges tend to give the custody of children to the mother who then becomes a lone parent. Therefore, as more and more people divorce, there are more single mothers. Today, women have the same rights to education and employment as men. As a result, they have careers to earn money to support themselves and their children without having to be married. It is no longer ‘shameful’ for a single, unmarried woman to have a baby because social attitudes have changed since the 1960s. Women can rely on benefits to support their children if they don’t have a husband. This was not possible until the late 1940s when the welfare state was created. Miss S Brobbey 5 mins

6. Task 2 Why does the New Right Perspective dislike lone parent families? Work independently. Read the handout and answer these questions into your book using full sentences. 1. Which type of family is the best according to the New Right perspective and why? 2. What are the three main features of a ‘normal’ family? 3. Which 3 characteristics of modern life are putting the nuclear family in crisis? 4. Who in particular does the New Right blame for social problems? 5. In which 3 ways are single mothers ‘harming’ the society? Miss S Brobbey 15 mins Extension: Do you agree with the New Right view of families? Justify your reason.

7. Answers 1. Which type of family is the best according to the New Right perspective and why? Nuclear family – children do better educationally, physically, psychologically and socially. 2. What are the three main features of a ‘normal’ family? It is made up of a mum, dad, children; mum is a housewife, dad a breadwinner; they provide and care for each other. 3. Which 3 characteristics of modern life are putting the nuclear family in crisis? Increase in divorce, number of babies born outside marriage, working mothers. 4. Who in particular does the New Right blame for social problems? Single never married mothers. 5. In which 3 ways are single mothers harming the society? Financial burden, unsocialised children, irresponsible men. Miss S Brobbey 3 mins

8. Task 3 Strengths and weaknesses of the New Right perspective. 1. Read the statements in the boxes on the worksheet. 2. In one colour, shade in all the positive aspects of the New Right perspective and all the criticisms of the New Right perspective in an different colour. Miss S Brobbey 10 mins

9. Answers Positive aspects of the New Right Criticisms of the New Right The New Right sees the family as a support network in which all members of the family look out for each other. The New Right reinforces the sexist ideas that women should stay at home and care for the family while men go out to work and support the family financially. The New Right approach is optimistic in its ideas about the family and the important role the family plays in society. The New Right ignores the problems which may go on within the nuclear family. For example, domestic abuse. The New Right assumes that the nuclear family is the ideal and ignores the benefits experienced by members of, for example, extended families. The New Right perspective recognises that a stable home background is necessary for the healthy development of children. Miss S Brobbey

10. Extension Complete the ‘Fatherless Families’ worksheet Miss S Brobbey

11. Extension Are the New Right correct to worry about the financial burden of lone parent families in the UK? 8%Proportion of lone parent families in the UK 0.4%Proportion of lone parent families in Italy 56.5%Proportion of lone parent employment rate in the UK 80%Proportion of lone parent employment rate in Denmark £3.4 billion Annual cost of benefit support for lone parents in the UK Miss S Brobbey

12. Discussion 1. Look at the image. a) What impression does it give about single mothers? b) What impression does it give about young men? c) How does it support the New Right theory? Miss S Brobbey 3 mins

13. Plenary Suggest two ‘problems’ a lone parent family may cause for society according to the New Right perspective. (4 marks) One problem is… Another problem is… Miss S Brobbey 5 mins

14. Self- Assessment Have you achieved your learning outcome?  All students will identify the reasons for the increase in lone-parent families.  Most students will outline the New Right views on nuclear and lone parent families.  Some students will consider the negative aspects of the New Right perspective Is there something you have not understood this lesson? Miss S Brobbey

15. Learning journey Find and tick the lesson we did today on the worksheet. Miss S Brobbey

16. What is a family? & Different types of families Functionalist theory on the family and the role of the family Critical views of the family: Marxist and Feminist theories on the family New Right theory on the family Cross-cultural alternatives to the family Factors leading to family diversity Family life cycle Changes in gender roles Symmetrical family – reality or a myth? Family relationships – children and the elderly Different types of marriages & Marriage trends Revision & End of unit test Future of the family Increase in divorce rates, cohabitation and lone parent families Contemporary family related issues – quality of parenting, arranged marriage Demographic changes Miss S Brobbey