marxist view of the family

Question 1

marxism 4 functions of the family

Answer 1

1 inheritance of property
2 ideological functions
3 unit of consumption
4 providing a ‘safe haven’

Question 2

Engles - inheritance of property definition

Answer 2

some people own the ‘means of production’ and others have to ‘sell their labour’ to survive, monogamous nuclear family develops so men can be sure of passing property onto heirs which brought women’s sexuality under male control, however when w/c die they have nothing to pass on so have to fend for themselves and a communist revolution will reduce need for nuclear family as all property will be collectively owned

Question 3

Engles inheritance of property criticisms

Answer 3

-in communist countries the nuclear family is the most common so it challenges the idea that a communist revolution would reduce need for nuclear families
-fails to recognise gender inequality

Question 4

Althusser - ideological functions definition

Answer 4

the family performs important ideological functions for a capitalist society as it teaches children to ‘know their place’ and obey their parents (particularly fathers) in preparation for obeying those in work, children are socialised to accept inequality and hierarchy is inevitable

Question 5

unit of consumption definition

Answer 5

families provide an important source of profit for big businesses as they’re purchasing their goods which are sold for higher profit than workers are paid (exploitation), advertisers encourage families to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ and ‘pester power’ is encouraged by appealing to children the latest products

Question 6

Zaretsky ‘safe haven’ definition

Answer 6

family provides a ‘safe haven’ for male workers as they can find solace after a harassing day which makes them feel better for the working day tomorrow which benefits capitalism so the family is an institution closely linked to the economy and the perpetuation of capitalism

Question 7

Marxism strengths

Answer 7

-looks at how family can be oppressive
-acknowledges ‘dark side’ of the family
-shows how the family links to inequality of capitalism

Question 8

Marxism weaknesses

Answer 8

-the 2 class system is too simplistic (w/c and m/c)
-ignores family diversity, theory is based on nuclear family
-not all families are oppressive
-ignores positive functions of the family
-feminists say it ignores oppression of women to focus on w/c oppression