Theories of the family

Question 1

How do marxists view society? (consensus or conflict)

Answer 1

Conflict

Question 2

What are the main 3 functions of the family according to marxists?

Answer 2

• ideological functions
• inheritance of property
• a unit of consumption

Question 3

What does the family fulfill according to marxists?

Answer 3

Capitalism

Question 4

Define ideological functions

Answer 4

A set of ideas that justify the inequality of society, maintaining the capitalist system.

Question 5

In terms of ideological functions, what do marxists say that the family do?

Answer 5

Family socialises children into the idea of hierarchy as parental power shows them that someone is always in charge.

Question 6

How do Marxists see inheritance of property as benefitting capitalists?

Answer 6

As forces of production developed (industrial revolution) , societies wealth increased which started the development of private property. Led to nuclear family which enforces capitalism and continues.

Question 7

What does Zaretsky say one of the ideological functions of the family is?

Answer 7

He says that ‘the family offers a haven from the harsh and exploitative world of capitalism where workers can be themselves.’

Question 8

What does unit of consumption mean?

Answer 8

Capitalism exploits the labour of workers, making profit by selling the products of their labour for more than it pays for the to produce.

Question 9

How do Marxists say that the family generate a capitalist society? (unit of consumption)

Answer 9

Advertisements urge families to consume latest products.

Media targets children which ends up in pester power.

Children who lack the latest items are stigmatised by peers.

Question 10

How do feminists criticise Marxists theory of the family?

Answer 10

Say that marxists emphasise the class inequality and capitalism but underestimates the importance of gender inequality within the family.

Question 11

Give one criticism of marxists theory of the family

Answer 11

They tend to assume nuclear family is the dominant one within capitalist society, ignoring the variety of family structures found in society today.

Question 12

Give 2 examples of ideological functions of the family

Answer 12

Family socialises into idea of hierarchy.
Family provides safe haven from the exploitative capitalist society.

Question 13

Who described the promiscuous horde and what does it mean?

Answer 13

Engels - people had no family structure so everyone had loose relationships

Question 14

Why was the promiscuous horde replaced by monogamous marriage?

Answer 14

The Fathers needed to know who their sons were so they could pass down their inheritance of private property.

Question 15

How do feminists view society? (conflict/consensus)

Answer 15

conflict

Question 16

What are the 4 main types of feminist views on the family?

Answer 16

• liberal feminists
• radical feminists
• difference feminists
• marxist feminists

Question 17

Which theory is the earliest form of feminism?

Answer 17

liberal

Question 18

What do liberal feminists campaign for?

Answer 18

For equal rights and opportunities for women.

Question 19

What do liberal feminists say about the position of women now?

Answer 19

Women’s oppression is gradually being overcome - sex discrimination act 1975

Moving towards greater equality but not full equality yet.

Question 20

Who did liberal feminists hold a similar view to (functionalists)?

Answer 20

Young and Willmott’s march of progress view

Question 21

What is one criticism of liberal feminists?

Answer 21

Other feminists say that they fail to challenge the underlying causes of womens oppression and believe that the laws are doing more than they actually are for society.

Question 21

What do marxists feminists say that the cause of feminism is?

Answer 21

Capitalism - not the oppression of men.

Question 21

Who says that womens oppression performs several functions for capitalism?

Answer 21

Margaret Benson

Question 22

What are the 3 main functions women perform for capitalism according to marxist feminists?

Answer 22

• women reproduce the labour force by socialising children into capitalist society.
• women absorb the anger that would otherwise be directed at capitalism
• women are a reserve army of cheap labour that can be used when extra workers are needed.

Question 23

Who talks about the fact women absorb the anger of society?

Answer 23

Fran Ansley - women are the takers of shit who soak up the alienation of capitalist exploitation from their husbands.

Question 24

What is radical feminists view on society?

Answer 24

All society based on the patriarchy.

Question 25

What are 2 views that radical feminists hold due to the division of men and women in society?

Answer 25

Men are the enemy

The family and marriage are key institutions in patriarchal society where men benefit from women’s unpaid domestic labour and sexual services.

Question 26

What do radical feminists believe the solution to this inequality is?

Answer 26

They believe the patriarchal society needs to be overturned - only way to achieve this is separatism where women must live independently from men.

Question 27

Who said that the nuclear family is like sleeping with the enemy?

Answer 27

Greer

Question 28

What is one criticism for radical feminism?

Answer 28

Liberal feminists argue that radical feminists fail to see that womens position has improved considerably.

Question 29

What is difference feminists view on the family?

Answer 29

They say that we cannot generalise women’s experiences as all women - black, white, middle class, working class, lesbian, heterosexual women all experience a different situation

Question 30

How do white feminists have a different view to black feminists?

Answer 30

White feminists regard the family purely negatively and neglect black womens experience of racial oppression.
Black feminists view the family positively as a source of support and resistance against racism.

Question 31

What is one criticism of difference feminism?

Answer 31

Other feminists argue that it ignores the fact many women have the same experiences like domestic violence and sexual assault etc.

Question 32

What type of view do functionalists have on the family (conflict/ consensus)?

Answer 32

Consensus

Question 33

What are Murdock’s 4 functions of the family that meet the needs of society and its members?

Answer 33

• socialisation of the young
• stable satisfaction of the sex drive
• reproductive function
• economic function

Question 34

How does the economic function of the family support society?

Answer 34

Nuclear family earns man money to provide for his family which fulfils economic function.

Question 35

How does the stable satisfaction of the sex drive support society?

Answer 35

Sexual relationships between men and women within marriage are controlled creating nuclear families.

Question 36

How does socialisation of the young support societies functions?

Answer 36

Children are taught the social norms and values of society.

Question 37

How does the reproductive function of the family support society?

Answer 37

Men and women reproducing next generation - without this society could stagnate

Question 38

What is one criticism of Murdock’s theory?

Answer 38

Feminists and Marxists say that he sees society with rose tinted views and ignores the inequalities within society.