Family functions

Question 1

Marxists would argue that the role of the family in nsociety today is to enable the exploitation of the worker.

(Marxist)

Answer 1

Zaretsky argues the family cushions the the exploitation of the worker by creating a safe environment where they get to be ‘the boss’ and take out thier frustration. This reduces thier stress from the workplace enough to keep them ignorant to thier labour exploitation.

Parsons would argue that this effect is the ‘warm bath theory’ and instead of enabling exploitation it keeps society running by allowing the wokrer to relax into thier family like a warm bath.

Question 2

Marxists also argue that a function of the family in society today is to mainntain bourgouis wealth and class dominance.

(Marxist)

Answer 2

Engels (1884) argued that family has a clear economic function for capitalism, by ensuring that wealth remained in the hands of the bourgeoisie. Inheritance is based on clear legal contracts in coodrination with family ties and therefore when afluent people die wealth is passed on to thier children, keeping the family as bourgouis and preventing wealth from being shared.

Question 3

Feminists

(Feminist)

Answer 3

Feminists Delphy and Leonard observed that it was women who were exploited they did the bulk of the domestic labour, regardless of whether they also went out and did paid work outside the home too (tirple shift).

Instead of the labour division benefiting the class sytem it benefits men who have more dominance over domestic life and financial standing despite the women contributing more effort.

Question 4

Functionalists

(Functionalist)

Answer 4

Parsons functional fit theory
- argues that family fits society as society changes such as family types shifting from extended to nuclear with the change of society from pre-industiral to indsutrial. It does this to accurately socilaise children