marxism and the family Flashcards
what do marxists believe about the family
marxists reject the view that society is based on value consensus and operated for the benefit of all. instead they see a basic conflict of interest between powerful ruling class and the mass of the population, the subject class. the family is seen as one of a number of institutions which served to maintain the position of the ruling class.
capitalism and marxism
modern industrial societies have a capitalist economic system which is based on private ownership of economic institutions like banks and factories. the ruling class are seen to exploit the subject class. institutions such as the family, the education system and the political system are shaped by the requirements of capitalism and serve to support and maintain it.
inheritance and private property
1884-Fredrick engels argued that the modern nuclear family developed in a capitalist society. private property is at the heart of capitalism, and it largely owned by men. before 1882 in britain married women could not own property, it passed to their husband on marriage.
maintaining capitalism
in some respects, marxist views of the family are similar to those of functionalists. for example, both see the family as a unit which reproduces and socialises children. marxists see the family as a means for:
-reproducing ‘labour power’
-consuming the products of capitalism
- providing them emotional support for workers, so helping them to cope with the harsh realities of capitalism
-socialising children to accept the inequalities of a capitalist society. marxists believe that the family helps to maintain an unjust and exploitative system.
criticisms of marxism
marxist views of the family follow logically from marxist theory. if the family provides emotional support for workers, then this helps them to accept the injustices of the capitalist system. sociologists generally agree that the economic system has some influence on the family however most would disagree that the family is shaped by the needs of the system
