Underclass thesis applied to family
New Right and conservative sociology apply underclass theory to family, arguing family breakdown (lone motherhood, cohabitation) causes poverty and social problems, creating intergenerational dependency.
Real World
The 2011 England riots were blamed by some commentators on 'fatherless families' in deprived areas, echoing the underclass thesis, yet research by the LSE found participants cited police harassment and lack of opportunities rather than absent fathers.
Exam Focus
Distinguish between cultural and structural explanations of poverty — markers penalise conflating the two.
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