Marxsist view of the family

Question 1

What two groups do Marxist view society?

Answer 1

• The capitalist class/ Bourgousie - Who owns the means of production
• The working class/ Proletariat - Who’s labour the capitalists exploit

Question 2

According to Marxists what functions do the family provide?

Promisiucis horde, Paternal power, Pester power

Answer 2

• inheritance and private property - Before industrialisation there was a promiscuous horde, but as wealth increased. Monoanmhy became essential so men knew their offspring IOT pass fortune onto them.
• Ideological functions - Socialising the children into the hierarchy and inequality are inevitable. Also providing a haven where people can have a life outside the harsh capitalism outside.
• Unit of consumption - The family are consumers and things are marketed to them, the media target children to urge them to buy. Children use ‘Pester power’ to make parents spend more.

Question 3

Criticisms of the Marxist perspective

Answer 3

1. Tend to assume that the nuclear family is the dominant type. Which ignores the other types of family’s.
2. Feminists argue that it focuses too much on class and undermines the importance of gender inequalities.
3. Funtioanlists claim that they ignore the benefits of the family

Question 4

What kind of theory is the Marxist theory?

Answer 4

Conflict theory