Zaretsky On The Family

Question 1

Who and what does zaretsky believe ?

Answer 1

He is a Marxist and believes that the family has changed from being a unit of production to a unit of consumption

Question 2

Name what you can about family being a unit of consumption

Answer 2

In the pre industrial era the family was a unit of production - with all the family being engaged in activities that contributed to family income

Question 3

What happened to families during the industrial era ?

Answer 3

Urbanisation meant that families often have to consume foods rather then produce them and workers would exchange labour for a wage that are required to buy goods and services

Question 4

Zaretskys opinion on the family as a safe haven ( family as a safe haven )

Answer 4

Zaretsky argued that work in the modern era is labour intensive and unfulfilling for workers , so workers suffer alienation from not seeing the results of their labour so the home allows for workers to be replenished for another days work

Question 5

How does the family prop up capitalism ? (3 points )

Answer 5

1. Unpaid labour of women
2. Reproduction of future generations and socialisation into capitalist norms
3. The fear of the consequences of unemployment mean that the bourgeoisie can control wages and working conditions

Question 6

Evaluation of zaretsky (2 points )

Answer 6

1. focus on economic functions of the family

2. lack of focus of how women are affected by males in the home ( “the slave of wage slaves “)