Marxism and the Family Flashcards
How do marxists view the function of the family?
. As meeting the needs of the capitalist system. . They perform essential functions for a modern industrial society, arguing that the family benefits the minority in power (bourgeoise) and disadvantages the working class majority (proletariat).
What did Engels say in 1884?
- The family had an economic function of keeping money within the bourgeoisie by passing it on to the next generation as inheritance.
What did Zaretsky say in 1976?
. He focused on how the family helped the capitalist economy. He argued that the family is one place in society where the proletariat can have power and control. When the working man gets home, he’s king of his own castle. This relieves some of the frustration workers feel about their low status which helps them to accept their oppression and exploitation as workers.
In a capitalist society a woman’s role as ‘______’ of the family means workers are cared for and _________. This makes them more _________ - a great benefit that the capitalist class (the employers) get for _____.
- Housewife
- Healthy
- Productive
- Free
The family household is a unit with the desire to buy the ____ produced by capitalist industry e.g. washing machines, cars, fridges . The family is a unit of _______. The family buys the goods for ______ than they cost to _______ and the bourgeoisie get the _____.
- Goods
- Consumption
- More
- Produce
- Profit
Criticisms of Marxism:
The marxists focus too much on the ______, seeing the family only as a ____ for capitalism, entirely benefiting the ______ alone. This ignores the benefits to individuals and society. It also doesn’t consider how the family as an institution flourishes in ___-______ societies.
- Negative
- Tool
- Economy
- Non-capitalist
What do traditional marxists assume about the family?
That the worker is male and a woman is the housewife.
