f4 zaretsky on family Flashcards
what type of sociologist is zaretsky?
Marxist
how has there been a shift from production to consumption in families today?
Zaretsky argues that the family has transitioned from being a unit of production, where all members contributed to the family’s resources, to a unit of consumption, primarily purchasing goods with wages earned from labour.
how has the change in families caused economic dependency ?
The industrial era forced families to rely on wages for survival, moving them away from self-sufficiency and making them dependent on the ruling class, family props up the capitalist system.
what is consumer culture according to zaretsky?
Zaretsky highlights the phenomenon of “keeping up with the Joneses,” where families feel pressured to acquire the same goods as their peers, thus supporting capitalism e.g cars home decor clothing.
how are children consumers nowardays?
Children have shifted from being economic assets to liabilities, as they now primarily consume rather than contribute economically to the family. Children want the latest clothes games generating false needs that benefit capitalism. economic liabilty
how does the family help workers pyscologically?
Zaretsky says that the family serves as a psychological refuge for workers, helping them cope with the alienation experienced in labor-intensive jobs.
how does the family release tensions of workers?
The home environment allows workers to release built-up tensions, which Zaretsky argues ultimately serves capitalism by preventing rebellion. Family being a safe haven for workers is similar to parsons although parsons view is seen through rose tinted spectacles as an idealistic portrayal of family life zaretsky view is a more realistic and demonstrates the frustrations of workers employed to the capitalist system.
what is the role of women in these families?
Zaretsky emphasizes the significant unpaid labor performed by women in the home, which supports the capitalist system by allowing workers to focus on their jobs and this unpaid labour serves the needs of capitalism allows workers to focus on task in hand.
how do families socialize the future workers?
The family is responsible for socializing the next generation into the norms of capitalism, creating compliant workers who will perpetuate the cycle of consumption and labor
how does the family prop up capitalism?
the responsibility of family life also act as a control on workers, they need to provide for their family and the fear of the consequences of unemployment means that the bourgeoisie can control wages and working conditions. In times of high unemployment, the family acts as a source of motivation to work longer and for less pay.
what are some critisms on zaretsky’s ideas ?
- Economic Focus: Critics argue that Zaretsky places too much emphasis on the economic functions of the family, overlooking other motivations for family formation
- Feminist Perspectives: Feminists critique Zaretsky for not adequately addressing the role of women in the family, particularly regarding their emotional labour and the impact of their unpaid work - women absorbing the anger of workers often refered 2 to ‘the slaves of wage slaves’
