Marxist Theory of The Family

Question 1

• Name one way in which the family maintains capitalism.
• State the sociologist who argues this

Answer 1

• Inheritance of property (Engels)

Question 2

Explain what Engles believes when it comes to the inheritance of properties.

Answer 2

• perpetuates social and economic inequalities by allowing the wealthy to pass down their wealth and resources for future generations.
• creates a cycle where wealth and privilege remain concentrated within certain families and social classes.

Question 3

• Name another way in which the family maintains capitalism.
• State the sociologist who argues this

Answer 3

• Family is part of the ideological state apparatus
• (Althusser)

Question 4

Explain what Althusser argues in terms of how family is part of the ideological state apparatus.

Answer 4

• implies that functions uphold societal norms and controls individuals.
• explains that the family through socialisation and passing down values contribute to maintaining the existing capitalist system by installing beliefs and behaviour that align with the capitalist ideology.

Question 5

• Name one way in which the family maintains capitalism.
• State the sociologist who argues this

Answer 5

• reproduces workforce
• (Zaretsky)

Question 6

Explain what Zaretsky argues in terms of family reproducing the workfore.

Answer 6

• how the family unit through socialising individuals to become future working ensures a constant labour supply for capitalist production.

Question 7

Explain the term ‘cushions alienation’

Answer 7

Zaretsky argues that by family providing emotional support and a sense of belonging which can help individuals cope with the alienation aspects of capitalist society.

Question 8

Explain the term ‘family is a unit of consumption

Answer 8

-Zaretsky argues that families engaging in certain activities which help and drive economic growth. E.g families purchasing goods.
- the media also targets children in oder to persuade their parents to buy their product (pester power)

Question 9

Explain the term ‘family is being commodified.

Answer 9

• Hochschild argues that in capitalism almost every aspect if social life is commodified (something which can be brought or sold)
• Emotional life has increasingly become a commodity - capitalism seek profit.

Question 10

Evaluation of Engles.

Answer 10

• Research carried out shows his work is factually incorrect.
• Engles draws attention to looking at how the family is shaped by society

Question 11

Evaluation of Althusser.

Answer 11

• overly deterministic - overlooks at how families can serve as sites of resistance against oppressive structures.
• neglects the impact of the larger economic and political forces on family dynamics.

Question 12

Evaluation of Zarestsky.
(reproduces the workforce)

Answer 12

• exaggerates the importance of the family as a refuge from life in capitalist society.
• undermines the extent of cruelty and violence and neglect within families.

Question 13

Evaluation of Zarestsky.
(Cushions alienation)

Answer 13

• for overlooking the diversity if family structures
• the traditional nuclear family may not reflect the experience of all families.