Marxist Funtion Of Family Flashcards
Unit of consumption
Family play a role in generating profit for capitalism.
Eg media encouraged children to use pester power so parents buy more and give more/ children have latest items
A03- Marxists assume nuclear family is dominant but ignore other family structures existing / ignore positives of family that functionalist point out
Engles Primitive Communisms
Collective rights to basic resources / if there’s no class there’s no conflict.
In 1880’s property owned collectively and no private family - not passing down property to children it was more equal/ lived in big sexual groups/ era of sexual freedom/ no rules limited relationships/ society itself was the family.
A03-functionalists =everyone in society should be allocated roles to maintain social cohesion and value consensus/nuclear family ideal meeting needs of society and hells stabilisation if later adult personalities.
Engels (inheritance of property)
Nuclear family arose as a clear economic function for capitalism it insures that wealth remained in the hands of the bourgeoisie.
Eg have a will, clear Legal contracts/Facilitate inheritance and therefore when rich people die and children keep hold of their wealth/property/business (rich stay rich)
A03- Modern research suggests nuclear family found in hunter gatherer groups/human spent most existence as a hunter gatherers = idea of nuclear family emerging as a response to passing down private property as unlikely
Functionalists = family need it as it plays important role of socialising and stabilising adult personalities
Althusser -Ideological state apparatus
Family a function of ISA. Socialises both Pro capitalist ideology into the family to continue the pattern.
EG Family socialise members to except gender roles/natural that men and women get married and engage in separate roles/expressive instrumentals roles passed down generations so seen as good for capitalism.
A03- Feminists argue that supports patriarchy in – suggest men and women should have different roles/Subordination of women/ inequality
Functionless = family enables children to become affective functioning adults through socialisation
Zaretsky-
Family maintains capitalism = offers emotional security from oppressive world of work. Emotional warmth encourages them to live another day under harsh reality of capitalism.
Eg Allows oppression to continue to separate gender roles / Woman housewife/men in control/patriarchy + hierarchy.
A03- Marxist ignore positive side of family – reading bedtime stories/days out/leisure activities/family holiday/parental love/ nurturing
Family oppressive and patriarchal
Family oppressive to women/patriarchal due to male dominance.
E.g. women as housewives/ triple shift/ dual burden/ Do childcare and domestic work/dark side of family – men use force to show control around 570,000 cases reported to you in the UK/men make major decisions/women subordinate make decisions on food and clothes.
A03- Marxism ignores woman enjoy their role in the family/Some fund it fulfilling and a rewarding experience
Conclusion
Marxism maintains capitalism/members except exploitation and oppression/socialised into capitalism/however family does provide love and care/good socialisation and role models to avoid a broken home
