marxism and the family

Question 1

marxists argue that

Answer 1

the family helps maintain class divide + benefits capitalism

Question 2

three ways family helps capitalism

Answer 2

-inheritance
-consumerism
-socialisation

Question 3

inheritance

Answer 3

money and wealth is passed down in a families through inheritance, not shared with working class
-bourgeoisie have a lot of wealth to pass on to children whilst proloteriat have little to nothing which increases class inequality and reproduces it

Question 4

consumerism

Answer 4

families are targeted as consumers who buy products through media + advertisement, children use ‘pester power; as families buy this profits go to the ruling class

Question 5

socialisation

Answer 5

children learn to accept hierarchy and the fact someone is in charge- accept this in the workplace, work for capitalism do not revolt
- turn into passive conformists

Question 6

zaretsky(1976)

Answer 6

-modern capitalist society provides illusion that society is fair , false-class consciousness helps maintain capitalism
-illusion that the ‘private life’ of the family is separate from the economy

Question 7

zaretsky(1976) what effect does he speak about?

Answer 7

the cushioning effect- parallel to Parsons warm bath theory
-family acts as a relief from the stress and tension breadwinner faces as he is exploited under capitalism
- family make breadwinner to feel in control and strong, something he does not experience at work due to the oppression from the bourgeiosie which makes him continue to work for capitalism

Question 8

what are the functions explored by marxist?

Answer 8

• inheritance function
  -reproducing of class inequality

Question 9

what does Engels look at

Answer 9

the origin of the family

Question 10

what did Engels argue?

Answer 10

family has a clear economic function for capitalism, ensuring that wealth remains with the bourgeoisie

Question 11

family relations based on legal contracts facilitate

Answer 11

inheritance, so when rich people die their children keep hold of their wealth

Question 12

different stages of the evolution of the family

Answer 12

-primitive communism
-polygamy
-monogamous nuclear family
-forces of production

Question 13

primitive communism

Answer 13

• characterised by promiscuity
  -promiscuous hoard
  -sexual relations outside of marriage
• no institutions of marriage
  -no private property so no private family units or social classes

Question 14

polygamy

Answer 14

family evolved out of promiscuity through polygamy

Question 15

monogamous nuclear family

Answer 15

-emerged as a result of private ownership (capitalism)
-clear idea of legitimate kin and heir so inheritance could be passed down
-way for men to be sure of the paternity

Question 16

forces of production

Answer 16

emergence of private property -introduced by the state instituted laws protect system of private property

Question 17

private property

Answer 17

emergence of capitalism , bourgeoisie began owning private property for personal property –> reproduced class inequality

Question 18

women- engels

Answer 18

-claimed nuclear family created gender inequality as men took control of women’s sexuality and labour to reproduce the next generations

Question 19

what did engels argue would happen if capitalism was overthrown?

Answer 19

women could be freed not just from the capitalist society but also the patriarchal society

Question 20

communist society would mean

Answer 20

no need for a private family unit as there was no private property

Question 21

evaluations of marxism (A03)

Answer 21

-focuses purely on class inequality, fail to recognise gender inequality through the exploitation of women by the cushioning effect
feminists would argue marxists downplays the role of patriarchy, which is the real source of female oppression. Feminists would point out that sex inequalities exist within all families, irrespective of social class background.

-too negative light-> functionalists would argue the nuclear family can be positive

• too focused on nuclear family fail to recognise family diversity, outdated in this sense as they fail to recognise dual earners, joint conjugal roles - postmodernists would criticise

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