Theories Of The Family

Question 1

What is capitalism

Answer 1

According to Marxists capitalism is a society divided into two opposing and unequal classes

Question 2

The capitalist class

Answer 2

(Bourgeoise) is a minority who owns means of production

Question 3

The working class

Answer 3

Whose labour the capitalists exploit for profit

Question 4

How do Marxists view the family

Answer 4

Marxists see all society’s institutions as helping to maintain class inequality and capitalism
The functions of the family are performed purely for the benefit of the capitalist system

Question 5

Friedrich Engels inheritance of private property

Answer 5

The family developed so that men could control children and women and allow them to pass property to their biological offspring

Question 6

Friedrich Engels inheritance of property

Answer 6

As capitalist societies begin to emerge so came the development of private property and a class of men who secured control of the means of production.This brought about the patriarchal monogamous nuclear family

Question 7

Friedrich Engels on monogamous relationships

Answer 7

According to Engels monogamy became essential because of the inheritance of private property

Question 8

Unit of consumption Eli Zarestsky

Answer 8

The family is a prop to the capitalist system the up paid work of housewives support future generations of workers

Question 9

Unit of consumption

Answer 9

The family play a major role in generating profits since it is an important market for the sale of consumer goods

Advertisers urge families to keep up with the latest trends
Pester power
Must have gadgets

Question 10

Nicos Poulantzas Ideological functions

Answer 10

The family is part of the superstructure used to control and create values to support capitalism

Question 11

Nico poulantzas ideological functions

Answer 11

The family is nothing more than an ideological conditioning device children learn to conform and become cooperative and exploited workers

Question 12

Marxism

Answer 12

A conflict theory is a perspective based on the idea of Karl Marx (1818-83)

Conflict working/ruling class/Family preps up capitalism

Question 13

Marxist functions

Answer 13

Inheritance of property
Unit of consumption
Ideological functions

Question 14

A limitation of the Marxist view on family is

Answer 14

Ignores the feminist perspective Marxist emphasis on capitalism and social class underestimates the importance of gender inequalities.Feminists argue that the Marxist focus on social class inequalities downplays the role of patriarchy,which is the real source of female oppression.Feminists would point out that sex inequalities exist within all families irrespective of social class background

Question 15

A limitation of the Marxist view on family is

Answer 15

Ignores the benefit of the family Marxists ignore the very real benefits that the family provides for its members such as intimacy and mutual support the new right points out that this is the most functional type of environment in which to raise children and the nuclear family is found in most societies around the world suggesting it is something people chose.

Question 16

A strength of the Marxist view on the family is

Answer 16

Marxism is useful for highlighting the importance of economic influences of family life and because it raises the possibility that the family as an institution benefits some social groups such as higher class more than others

Question 17

The personal life perspective

Answer 17

Carol Smart recognising how families and households have moved away from traditional ideology and headed towards a more intimate and meaningful experience for individuals

Question 18

Inheritance of private property

Answer 18

(Friedrich Engels)The family developed so that men could control children and women and allow them to pass property to their biological offspring

Question 19

Inheritance of property Friedrich Engels

Answer 19

As capitalist societies begin to emerge so came the development of private property and a class of men who secured control of the means of production.This brought about the patriarchal monogamous nuclear family

According to Friedrich Engels monogamy became essential because of the inheritence of private property (men had to be of certain paternity of their children

This however has led to a ‘world historical defeat of the female sex’ where women have been turned into ‘a mere instrument for the production of children

Question 20

Units of consumption

Answer 20

The family play a major role in generating profits since it is an important market for the sale of consumer goods:
.Advertisers urges families to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ by consuming all the latest products
.The media target children,who use ‘pester power’ to persuade parents to spend more
.children who lack the latest clothes or ‘must have’ gadgets are mocked and stigmatised by their peers

Question 21

Ideological functions Nicos Poulantzas

Answer 21

The family is part of the superstructure,part of the ideological state apparatus used to control and create values to support capitalism

The family is nothing more than “an ideological conditioning device” children learn to conform and become cooperative and exploited workers

Question 22

Ideological functions

Answer 22

A set of ideas or beliefs that justify a inequality and maintain the capitalist system by persuading people to accept it as fair,natural or unchangeable

Question 23

Limitations of evaluations of Marxism

Answer 23

.assumes the nuclear family is dominant and ignores the wide and increasing types of family structure
.ignores the feminist perspective
.ignores the benefits of the family

Question 24

Strength of the Marxist view

Answer 24

Marxism is useful for highlighting the importance of economic influences of family life and because it raises the possibility that the family as an institution benefits some social groups ( higher classes ) more than others