Marxist View Flashcards
What do Marxists believe the function of the family is ?
Marxists see the function of the family as purely to benefit capitalism (by reproducing capitalist ideologies).
Features of the Marxist belief:
A conflict theory
Oppose functionalist views of the family
Oppose new right views of the family
Their views are predominantly linked to how the family unit serves capitalism and is the foundation to a strong economy
Engles: Inheritance of Properties
Inheritance: wealth and businesses being passed down through generations of a family.
This is evident in aristocratic families (families which have an extremely high status) and families which posses ascribed status (when people are born into the status they have, they do not have to work for it).
E.g the Royal Families, the Beckhams or the Kardashian family.
How does the Inheritance of Properties feed into capitalism?
This feeds into capitalism because the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor, class inequality remains and businesses that feed into the economy continue to grow/run.
Evidenced by Rishi Sunak:
Rishi Sunak evidenced Engle’s theory by lowering the percentage of taxation being paid when receiving inheritance money. The policy is aimed towards the bourgeoisie (upper class) because the upper class are more likely to receive inheritance (working class families typically do not have money to inherit) therefore helping for the rich to get richer and the poor to remain poor (class inequality remains).
Sometimes inheritance money is spent in funding businesses and institutions which again feeds back to those of the upper class, promoting capitalism.
What’s a critique of Engles’ theory ? (Marriage)
Engle’s ideas discredit the idea of marrying for love and instead promotes marrying for wealth and status.
His theory discredits the idea of the ‘Warm Bath Theory’ as it suggests love is not present within family institutions therefore the family would not fulfil the two irreducible functions suggested by functionalist Parson.
Zaretsky: Unit of Consumption
According to Zaretsky, the family is considered as a unit of consumption- especially those with 2 sources of income within a nuclear family as more money can be spent. Due to families becoming more child-centered we now consume more on: toys, childcare, holidays, celebrations (birthday, Christmas, Halloween, Easter).
What is Pester Power?
Due to the media, pester-power (children pestering parents for specific items and parents giving in) is now prevalent. This provided the economy with more money as parents are giving into their children’s additional wants.
What is Parent Guilt?
Parents are now subject to parent guilt due to the pressure on parents to meet certain expectations e.g amount of Christmas presents underneath the tree. This forces parents to feed into the economy to make sure they are meeting these expectations to please their children and fit in with the latest trends
Zaretsky: Cushioning Effect
The ‘cushioning effect’ is performed by the family unit and helps to absorb (cushion) the negative experiences of living in a capitalist society.
What are some negative experiences of living in a capitalist society?
Some negative experiences of living in a capitalist society include:
- homelessness
- cost of living crisis
- inflation
- taxation
- exhausting working hours
- exhausting schooling hours for the future workforce.
What do families do to ‘cushion’ the problems of living in a capitalist society?
Families ‘cushion’ the problems of living in a capitalist society by absorbing the negative consequences and providing support.
For example, the family unit tackles homelessness by offering secured housing and food/necessities.
Parents are able to stabilise personalities therefore offering support mentally and sometimes physically (parents may cook so you don’t have to after coming home from school or work).
Parents are always there to help out financially therefore adding stability and support in worse case scenarios.
Critique of cushioning effect:
Radical feminists would argue Zaretsky fails to acknowledge the burden and oppression (both capitalist and patriarchal) women have to take on to fulfil this role.
Althusser: Ideological State Apparatus
Althusser believes the family supports capitalism by transmitting hegemonic norms and values through primary socialisation, therefore functioning as an ideological state apparatus.
How are the hegemonic norms and values taught in the family?
The Dad in the nuclear family strives for good, high-paying employment (a role model)- which promotes the quality of being productive. Dad is the breadwinner and the value of money/wealth and employment is installed within the child from a young age. Obedience created through the discipline that the father performs.
Mum in the nuclear family: endures the stresses of abiding by these norms and values. If the Dad comes home stressed about work, it is her role to relax him and get him ready for another days work for tomorrow which helps to reinforce a false class consciousness (breeding capitalism).
Criticism to Althusser’s theory:
Althusser only discusses how hegemonic values are taught within nuclear families, he is oblivious to family diversity. He does not account for other family types such as: lone-parent families and same-sex families which do not function the same the nuclear family, suggesting that not all children are taught hegemonic norms and values so the family institutions may not be the main factor for capitalism being reproduced, instead it may be other institutions such as the education institution.
