Lakoff, G 2004 Don’t think of an Elephant! Know your Values and Frame the Debate. Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing

Theory and Application. Framing 101: How to take back Public Discourse

Relating family to politics – the need for democracy, equal rights in a family. Language used such as “Founding Fathers” and sending our “sons” to war. As humans we link politics/universal views to family values.

James Dobson ‘Dare to Discipline’ – Strict Father Model (Dictatorship) – Another link between family and right-wing politics (page 61).
Father tells not asks
President tells not asks

The Nurturant Parent – gender neutral – democracy; both parents equally responsible. Honesty, open-two way communication is fundamental in family as well as in a community, country – progressive values.
Page 14 – Six basic types of progressives. All of which are examples of the nurturant parent morality.

Page 46 (Chapter 3) – What’s in a word? Plenty if it’s marriage
Marriage – the connotations of the word. Life-long relationship, a partnership, family, vows, a home.
Why is same-sex marriage then frowned upon, as all of the above can be both hetero as well as homosexual?
Lakoff discusses sex being involved with marriage and many do not favour the idea of gays or lesbians having sex.
The connotations of same-sex marriage and gay marriage – same meaning but one sounds slightly sordid and represents an “irresponsible lifestyle” whilst the other softens the view that many have about gay marriages. There is something about getting the word into the English language and using it more regularly so that it becomes common and therefore the idea of same-sex marriages will become known more in our culture and society as well as our language.
Refers back to the Strict Father Model – they agree with only heterosexual marriage
Father = Leader:

• Role model to sons
• For daughters a model of what a man should be

On the other hand, the Nurturant Parent Model (two equal parents – democracy) stands for: (Page 48)

• Freedom
• Openness - Strong Progressive Politics
• Cooperation
• Community Development
• Fairness

Nurture children, teach children to nurture others. Although still considers marriage to be between man and woman, it does consider and does not rule out same-sex marriage. Strict Father Families follow tradition and are threatened by same-sex marriages.
Civil Unions allow for an economic unit (a family and a partnership) to be created. However, “gay activists” want their marriages to be accepted like a heterosexual marriage in a church so that they are able to represent their love and be treated with a “sense of normality”; the relationship between politics and personal freedom, under the law “equality includes social and cultural as well as material benefits” (page 49). When one thinks of the two aspects, marriage and family the initial thoughts are concerned with love, care and commitment not economic fairness.

The representation of the media – the way reporter phrases their questions to receive the most interesting and controversial answer. Lakoff talks about the ability to reframe, reframing a question can give a completely different answer.

Should be noted that this is an American resource.