marxist theory of family✅ Flashcards
what are marxists interested with in regards to family life
- interested in how family contributes to the overall running of society rather than how ppl experience family on daily basis
- want to find out overall purpose/function of family in society
how do marxists describe the relationship between capitalist and working class
- characterised by exploitation
- cause wages of working class do not reflect the true value of the work that they do for the Bourgeoisie
- in short—> our lives are defined by what class we belong to
what does Zaretsky(1976) claim about the family in regards to benefitting the ruling class
- socialises children into norms/values that are useful for capitalism
*i.e. family is an ideological agent of the ruling class
A03 of Zaretsky’s view of the family being a socialiser for the bourgeoisie
Cooper(1972) agrees with Zaretsky
- states that family serves an ideological function
- teaches values that benefit capitalism
- these values create foundation for obedient workforce
describe Zaretsky’s cushioning effect
- argues that family acts as a comforting device for the worker against the hardships of an oppressive and exploitative workplace
- ensures men are not stressed and can work effectively
- prevents rebellion
what does Ansley make of Zaretsky’s cushioning effect principle?
- agrees, claiming that women become emotional punching bags
- women are the “takers of shit”
- women’s primary job becomes looking after the man
how does Zaretsky claim that families are encouraged by ruling class ideologies in regards to consumerism
- encouraged through advertising and other types of mass media to “keep up with the jones’ ” and buy more consumer products
what did Marcuse note in regards to the profitability of capitalism
- Marcus noted that the profitability of capitalism depended on the family spending money on ‘false needs’
what do ‘false needs’ refer to?
- consumer goods which are mainly bought to be conspicuously consumed
how does consumerism of false needs link in to Fletcher
- in the 21st century the nuclear fam performs vital economic consumption
- the goods and services provided by the economy are mainly consumed by the family
why can Zaretsky’s view be considered outdated?
- writing in the 1980s
- assumes worker is male and that there is only 1 worker in the family
- ignores positive benefits that all family members may receive,
eg. emotional support, comfort and general positive effects
what did Engles examine?
- the way in which the family had evolved throughout history
- divided the history of humanity into two main eras
what were the two main eras Engles divided the history of humanity into
- the era of primitive communism
- the era of capitalism
describe the era of primitive communism
- no private property
- lived in tribes
- very few rules limiting sexual relationships—> marriage as we know it did not exist
- children were brought up by whole tribe rather than just parents
describe the era of capitalism
- the role of the family changed with the ‘invention’ of capitalism
- need to facilitate inheritance along bloodlines
why did Engle’s claim that the monogamous nuclear family was adopted by capitalists?
- because it provided the most efficient way to ensure wealth and private property was inherited by a persons direct descendants
how do feminists A03 Engles?
- feminists not that this has basically lead to the ‘world historical defeat of the female sex’
- women have been turned into a ‘mere instrument for the production of children’
what are some overall evaluation points of the Marxist view of the family?
- maxists exclude other factors (feminists)
- postmodernists claim Marxist theory is out of date
- too deterministic
what is an overall marxist criticism regarding the exclusion of other factors?
-feminists criticise marxists for failing to examine specific problems for women
eg:
- mothers reproduce+socialise next gen of workers
- women are responsible for majority of domestic tasks
- female domestic workers ensure male workers are healthy/efficient
- women form reserve army of labour
what is an A03 point of the marxist view of the family regarding Benston
- Benston(feminist) argues wife’s unpaid domestic labour is critical for healthy capitalist society
- keeps husband in good ‘running order’ by caring for his needs
however this theory can explain existence of ‘dark side of the family’ –> Ansley
how do Postmodernists criticise Marxist theories of the family?
- marxist theory is out of date
- the idea that men marry to pass down wealth ignores other reasons for marriage
- many women now work and have homes therefore less likely to marry for economic security
-counterargument= Zeretsky and Engles were merely writing as a reflection of their time
- cant be expected to consider modern day family diversity eg:women working
A03 of marxists claiming that family is a social construction and how it isn’t good for whole of society
- too deterministic
- functionalists argue there are many positive benefits eg;SOAP
–> just because you are w/c doesn’t mean you will be exploited
