The New Right Ethnic diversity
The New Right’s conservative and anti-feminist perspective on the family shows they
- Black families
are firmly opposed to family diversity.
Black British Caribbean families were found to have lower marriage and fertility rates
in comparison to other groups, similarly to White British families.
They see lone-parent families as dysfunctional and view one family as the
correct/normal type; the nuclear family. It is considered the cornerstone of society for The rate of lone parenthood and marriage with other groups (especially White British
them and is ‘natural’, involving refuge and harmony. partners) was much higher.
Their main concern of the growth of lone-parent families is due to the - Asian families
fact that it is considered harmful to children. British South Asian families have a more traditional family life
in comparison to other groups, with higher rates of marriage
Reasons include:
- Inadequate discipline from lone mothers
and low rates of cohabitation and divorce. Robert Chester
- Absence of adult male role models Couples got married at younger ages and (1985): The
- Such families are commonly poorer, the fertility rates were higher. neo-conventional
creating a burden on taxpayers. family
Chester has recognised an increase in
family diversity over recent years.
However, unlike the New Right, he does not regard this as
anything significant, nor does he see it negatively.
Family - Family
Diversity In his eyes the only significant change is the move from the
The extended family today dominance of the traditional/conventional nuclear family to instead
what he describes as the ‘neo-conventional’ family.
- Parsons
Believes the extended family was the dominant family type,
however it has been replaced by the nuclear family.
Although this type of family has declined, it is not This is essentially a dual-earner family where both spouses go to work
gone completely.
The Rapoports (1982) instead of solely the breadwinner husband in a conventional family.
It may still exist as a ‘dispersed Rhona and Robert Rapoport believe we have shifted (This is very similar to Willmott and Young’s symmetrical family).
extended family’, with relatives from the traditional nuclear family, instead going
being geographically towards a range of other different types.
separated yet remaining
Overall, Chester does not see any other evidence of
in contact through Unlike the New Right, The Rapoports view diversity as a positive response to major change.
calls and the different needs and wishes of individuals. They identify 5 different types: Most people don’t choose to live differently from the
visits.
nuclear family and it in fact remains the ideal family
1. Organisational Diversity 2. Cultural Diversity type everyone aspires to be.
Some couples are dual-earners, however some Different cultural, religious and ethnic groups
have segregated conjugal roles with one earner. have different family structures, e.g. Asian He blames the life cycle for the
households having more extended families. reasons people aren’t always part of
3. Social Class Diversity 4. Life-stage Diversity a nuclear family.
Differences in family structure Differences in structures in 5. Generational Diversity People are often either part of one in
are due to income differences accordance to age, e.g. young Differences in attitudes and experiences in the past, are in one now or will be in
between households of newly married couples, retired older and younger generations, e.g. differing one in the future.
different social classes. couples, empty nesters etc. views on morality around divorce/cohabitation
The New Right’s conservative and anti-feminist perspective on the family shows they
- Black families
are firmly opposed to family diversity.
Black British Caribbean families were found to have lower marriage and fertility rates
in comparison to other groups, similarly to White British families.
They see lone-parent families as dysfunctional and view one family as the
correct/normal type; the nuclear family. It is considered the cornerstone of society for The rate of lone parenthood and marriage with other groups (especially White British
them and is ‘natural’, involving refuge and harmony. partners) was much higher.
Their main concern of the growth of lone-parent families is due to the - Asian families
fact that it is considered harmful to children. British South Asian families have a more traditional family life
in comparison to other groups, with higher rates of marriage
Reasons include:
- Inadequate discipline from lone mothers
and low rates of cohabitation and divorce. Robert Chester
- Absence of adult male role models Couples got married at younger ages and (1985): The
- Such families are commonly poorer, the fertility rates were higher. neo-conventional
creating a burden on taxpayers. family
Chester has recognised an increase in
family diversity over recent years.
However, unlike the New Right, he does not regard this as
anything significant, nor does he see it negatively.
Family - Family
Diversity In his eyes the only significant change is the move from the
The extended family today dominance of the traditional/conventional nuclear family to instead
what he describes as the ‘neo-conventional’ family.
- Parsons
Believes the extended family was the dominant family type,
however it has been replaced by the nuclear family.
Although this type of family has declined, it is not This is essentially a dual-earner family where both spouses go to work
gone completely.
The Rapoports (1982) instead of solely the breadwinner husband in a conventional family.
It may still exist as a ‘dispersed Rhona and Robert Rapoport believe we have shifted (This is very similar to Willmott and Young’s symmetrical family).
extended family’, with relatives from the traditional nuclear family, instead going
being geographically towards a range of other different types.
separated yet remaining
Overall, Chester does not see any other evidence of
in contact through Unlike the New Right, The Rapoports view diversity as a positive response to major change.
calls and the different needs and wishes of individuals. They identify 5 different types: Most people don’t choose to live differently from the
visits.
nuclear family and it in fact remains the ideal family
1. Organisational Diversity 2. Cultural Diversity type everyone aspires to be.
Some couples are dual-earners, however some Different cultural, religious and ethnic groups
have segregated conjugal roles with one earner. have different family structures, e.g. Asian He blames the life cycle for the
households having more extended families. reasons people aren’t always part of
3. Social Class Diversity 4. Life-stage Diversity a nuclear family.
Differences in family structure Differences in structures in 5. Generational Diversity People are often either part of one in
are due to income differences accordance to age, e.g. young Differences in attitudes and experiences in the past, are in one now or will be in
between households of newly married couples, retired older and younger generations, e.g. differing one in the future.
different social classes. couples, empty nesters etc. views on morality around divorce/cohabitation
