Theories Of The Family Flashcards
What is capitalism
According to Marxists capitalism is a society divided into two opposing and unequal classes
The capitalist class
(Bourgeoise) is a minority who owns means of production
The working class
Whose labour the capitalists exploit for profit
How do Marxists view the family
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
Friedrich Engels inheritance of private property
The family developed so that men could control children and women and allow them to pass property to their biological offspring
Friedrich Engels inheritance of property
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
Friedrich Engels on monogamous relationships
According to Engels monogamy became essential because of the inheritance of private property
Unit of consumption Eli Zarestsky
The family is a prop to the capitalist system the up paid work of housewives support future generations of workers
Unit of consumption
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
Nicos Poulantzas Ideological functions
The family is part of the superstructure used to control and create values to support capitalism
Nico poulantzas ideological functions
The family is nothing more than an ideological conditioning device children learn to conform and become cooperative and exploited workers
Marxism
A conflict theory is a perspective based on the idea of Karl Marx (1818-83)
Conflict working/ruling class/Family preps up capitalism
Marxist functions
Inheritance of property
Unit of consumption
Ideological functions
A limitation of the Marxist view on family is
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
A limitation of the Marxist view on family is
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.
A strength of the Marxist view on the family is
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
The personal life perspective
Carol Smart recognising how families and households have moved away from traditional ideology and headed towards a more intimate and meaningful experience for individuals
Inheritance of private property
(Friedrich Engels)The family developed so that men could control children and women and allow them to pass property to their biological offspring
Inheritance of property Friedrich Engels
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
Units of consumption
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
Ideological functions Nicos Poulantzas
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
Ideological functions
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
Limitations of evaluations of Marxism
.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
Strength of the Marxist view
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
