This perfectly reflects on, and supports greatly, the traditional nuclear family as the nuclear family is based on 2 heterosexual parents, with separate roles for men and women. The New Right also says all other arrangements are ‘deviant’. The New Right are very critical of single mothers and illegitimate children, all of this making it seem socially unacceptable not to be a traditional nuclear family.
In 1988 changes in the taxation law meant that cohabiting couples could not claim more tax allowances than a married couple, also prevented from claiming mortgage relief as 2 individuals. This is directly making it beneficial to be married. This social policy also largely supports the traditional nuclear family as in the nuclear family the man and woman are married and it also certainly encourages the co-habiting couple to be married as there are more benefits for married couples.
The Child Support Agency set up in 1993 make absent parents financially responsible, meaning the parent with the children does not claim from the state. This somewhat reflects the nuclear family as the nuclear family are seen as financially independent- not dependent on the state.
A certain New Right Policy encourages families to look after themselves- extension of ‘community care’ policy- in practice meaning care by family members, mainly women- e.g. grandparents moving in with children – family expected to support the grandparents. This is making the families be more economically independent- not relying on the state. This reflects the nuclear family in the way that the nuclear family is economically independent.
Another New Right Policy is, from 1988, benefits were withdrawn from 16- 18 year olds, forcing families to maintain unemployed teenagers. This makes them totally economically dependent on their parents, however ensuring that they are not at all dependent on the state, once again reflecting the traditional nuclear family as it is economically independent.
The New Left (New Labour) supports the traditional nuclear family, however recognises that social change has occurred, here is a summary of the New Left:
- Policies were not so critical of other arrangements as those of the Thatcher/ Major (New Right) governments.
- However, still a strong emphasis on the nuclear family.
- Emphasis on education and law and order, plus a sense of community and citizenship- a ‘moral community’.
- The traditional nuclear family is seen to play an important role in all of these.
- Supporting Families 1999 a Green Paper which set out the New Labour views.
The New Left aims to strengthen family and marriage. The family is seen as important to the moral stability of society. The New Left aims to support and help the family in carrying out its job. The New Left also recognises that social change has occurred and therefore policies cannot be implemented which pretend that most people still live in traditional nuclear families.
Policies have been designed to help keep families together, support them and help them to support themselves- including single parent and reconstituted families. There is also a recognition that most households have 2 earners and that most members do not stay at home long-term to look after children. This shows that their policies probably do not reflect the nuclear family, however probably do support it, here are some examples of New Labour Policies:
- Longer maternity leave, plus paternity leave.
Showing that they recognise that the mother is not the only child carer, and that she is also a bread-winner. This does not reflect the traditional nuclear family.
- Working families Tax Credit (WFTC) - allowing the claiming of tax relief to enable parents to work without losing income through childcare costs.
This supports the nuclear family in the sense that it encourages them to work, and thus to be economically independent.
- New Deal- to help single parents return to paid employment.
This recognises that there are other types of families besides nuclear, and it also supports them. This does not reflect the traditional nuclear family as it shows that single parent families can be economically dependent on the state, unlike the nuclear family.
- Help with childcare for single mothers.
This shows that they feel that single mothers can depend on the state, which does not reflect the nuclear family as the nuclear family does not depend on the state.
Although the New Left may seem not to reflect and support the nuclear family as much as the New Right, the New Left Policies are accused of reflecting too closely the New Right agenda on the family.
From what I have found from writing this essay, I would have to say that social policies mainly reflect and support the traditional nuclear family, as all of the New Right Policies I researched support the traditional nuclear family, such as benefits to married couples, as opposed to cohabiting couples, as it encourages couples to get married to have these benefits. Despites the changes in the New Left to that of the New Right, many feminists see their view of the family as patriarchal and backward- which reflects the traditional nuclear family.
So as a conclusion, I feel that social policies greatly reflect and support the traditional nuclear family.
