Marxism On The Family Flashcards
What theory’s is Marxist
Structural and conflict
Who is the theory based on
Karl Marx 1818-1883
What do Marxists believe about society
Societies are unequal and unfair in regard to social class and think capitalist system is unequal
What do Marxists think about the capitalist system?
It’s unequal as based on oppression and exploitation. Economic system organised for production of profit and elite controls wealth of society
Who owns means of production
The elite controls wealth and means of production
What is the bourgeoisie
The ruling class who owns factories
What is the proletariat
The working class
What was the industrial revolution
People worked in very long hours on poor conditions for poor pay in factories
What did Marc say about the industrial revolution
See society as a split between bourgeoise who owned factories and lived in luxury and proletariat who scarped by on poor wages with limited control on their lives
What do Marxists compare society too
A league table due to completion between social classes. Bourgeoise benefit as they make money through surplus value
What is surplus value
The extra value added by workers as they produce more than they’re paid for
What did Marx believe would lead to a communism society
Workers would revolt leading to a lrevoultion and overthrow of bourgeoise leading to a new society called communism
What’s a communism
Classless society whereby property and recourses are public ally owned and wealth is evenly distributed
What do Marxists believe about the family
That the functions of the family benefit capitalism and that families are bad for people and society
What did Engels 1884 Believe
That nuclear family only arose as capitalism developed. Early stages of human evolution no rules limiting sexual relationships and no i situation of marriage. Development of capitalism means people starting accumulating wealth and private property. Laws characterised by inheritance, monogamy was essential as men has to be certain of their paternity to ensure that their legitamit heirs inherited from them.
Why did women go along with marriage according to Engels
Inheritance, monogamy, economic security which made them glorified prostitutes
How might family benefit capitalist society
Family bring children in as same class Socialise children into ruling class ideology creating false conciousness Work them but things putting money back into capitalist system Women provide emotional support/ advice to keep them working
According to Zaretsky What were the four key ways that the family benefits capitalism
Nuclear family benefits capitalism by reproducing and socialising future workers, provide emotional support for current workers via consumption
Strengths of Marxism
First theory to link family to capitalism and economy and offers an explanation of why families first developed in society
Explains inequalities of wealth between families
Explores a conflict approach to the family and questions the notion that nuclear family is always good for society
Weaknesses of Marxism
Many sociologists arthur that is simplistic to assume family is entirely shaped and connected to capitalism system as ignored other factors.
Functionalists argue that this approach places too much emphasis on conflict and ignores the satisfaction that people get from being members of a family.
Outdated
Criticisms of Engels
Monogamy and family found in hunter gatherer societies when capitalist didn’t exist.
Men don’t always marry for heir to property.
Outdated as women have financial independence
Criticisms of zaretsky
Family providing emotional support doesn’t happen to help capitalism; positive function to benefit individual family members and society. Some working class parents resist ruling class ideology when socialising their children. Not all married couples have children and voluntary childlessness is increasing
