Marxist views on the family Flashcards
What are Engels’ views on the family?
Engels suggested that the family unit and monogamy evolved from a polygamous, ‘promiscuous horde’ in response to the private ownership of property.
The need for legitimate heirs to pass on property led to the control of sexual behaviours and the development of monogamous relationships.
Patrilineal inheritance meant that in order to be sure of a child’s father, people formed monogamous relationships in order to pass on property.
This helps to reproduce inequality – the children of the rich grow up to be rich which benefits the Bourgeois.
What are Zaretsky’s views on the family?
Zarestky argued that the family performed a psychological function to support capitalism by cushioning the damage that it caused.
The working class are exploited at work, but the family reduces ideas of revolution.
He argues that people with families are less likely to challenge exploitative bosses because the loss of earnings don’t just affect themselves but their families.
Furthermore, women fuel the system by providing free labour.
What are Althusser’s views on the family?
Althusser argues that ‘the ideological state apparatus’ controls the behaviours of the working class through social institutions such as the family.
Elites suggest the ways in which family life should be organised and this is passed through social institutions, socialising children into acceptable behaviours.
In the family, it teaches children to accept that there will always be someone in ‘authority’, which mirrors the hierarchy of paid employment.
What are Hochschild’s views on the family?
Hochschild takes a more contemporary view of the family – view of family life becoming commodified.
Family life and personal relations have become transactions in the 21st century.
Alienation occurs in the home, with a separation of the emotional burden of caring for children and others in the family, leading to emotional struggles and impacted on self-esteem and self-worth on individuals.
Families must keep up with the material goods acquired by neighbours, known as “keeping up with the Joneses”.
The media and companies target children in their advertising who use pester power to buy more expensive items.
What are the evaluations of Zaretsky?
His views may be outdated due to the changing roles of women in the family and in society.
What are the evaluations of Engels?
Feminists argue that Engels sees the role of women being solely influenced by economics instead of patriarchy being the actual reason.
There’s little historical evidence of the ‘promiscuous horde’ predating inheritance and monogamy.
Infidelity still exists and paternity is not certain despite monogamous relationships.
What are the evaluations of Althusser?
Althusser’s basis is theoretical, rather than research based.
Are families really influenced by the behaviour of elites? There are subcultural values of different family types.
Ignores the meanings that people assign to their own actions.
What are some general evaluations of Marxism?
Emotional work is largely conducted by family members and changes in society have meant some focus more on emotional relationships in society than work.
Beck argues that men are more likely to define themselves as a father in the 21st century than by their occupation, due to the precarity of employment.
