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Summary -Families and Households Marxism
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Marxist view on the family
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Criticisms of the Marxist perspective:Marxism is a conflict view of society. It sees modern capitalist
society as divides into two classes: o Marxists tend to assume that the nuclear family is dominant in
capitalist society. This ignores the wide variety of family structures
The capitalist class/ bourgeoisie, who own the means of
found in society today
o Feminists argue that Marxist emphasis on class and capitalism
underestimates the importance of gender inequalities. Their view –
these are more fundamental than class inequalities, family primarily
serves interests of men, not capitalism
o Functionalists argue that Marxists ignore the very real benefits that
family provides for its members
Marxists argue that the family is being used by
the bourgeoisie, to help maintain the capitalist
state and ensure that the rich stay rich
Engels (1884) Zaretsky (1976)
Family had one key function: to ensure that rich families
passed on their inheritance to the rightful heir One key function of the family was to transmit ideology that helps maintain the capitalist
state and stop the proletariat from rebelling.
A class of men later gained control of the means of
production, bringing about the patriarchal monogamous - Family passing on ideology is needed to justify + legitimate power of the ruling class
nuclear family - Done through socialisation, passing on norms and values, ideas and beliefs that a) w/c
always be exploited b) ruling class always be in control
Capitalism is based on a system of private ownership –
bourgeoisie use their own personal wealth to personally Suggests that also the family unit is where members can relax, providing safe haven from
invest in businesses in order to make a profit, thy don’t invest stresses of the capitalist state
for the benefit of everyone else
Another key function of the family was to act as a unit of consumption.
Engels argued that monogamy became essential – men
- Family plays a major role in creating profit for the ruling class, by buying the goods they
didn’t have to worry about the paternity of their sons, let
make
them inherit private property (benefitting capitalism)
- Ruling class do this by creating competition between families and targeting children
Reproducing inequality - children of the rich grow up into (pester power)
wealth, while children of the poor remain poor. Thus nuclear - By buying products they are helping to maintain capitalist state, ensure rich stay rich
family benefits the bourgeoise more than proletariat
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