Marxism And The Family

Question 1

What do Marxists believe the family does?

Answer 1

Maintains class based inequalities and the main function of the family is to distract the proletariat from the fact they’re fact that they are being exploited by the bourgeoisie

Question 2

Functions of the family according to Marxists

Answer 2

Ideological function, inheritance and property, unit of consumption, the punch bag theory

Question 3

Ideological function (Marx)

Answer 3

Parents socialise their children into bourgeoise norms and values
e.g. accepting authority (parents vs boss)

Question 4

Inheritance and property (Engles)

Answer 4

The ownership and inheritance of private property benefits bourgeoisie families, ideological belief that nuclear families should get aspire to get a mortgage/buy their own home. Forever in debt to banks

Question 5

Unit of consumption(Marx)

Answer 5

The family builds demand for ‘false needs
1. Must keep up with material goods acquired by their peers
2. Pester power, bourgeoisie target children in their advertising who then persuade their parents to buy more expensive items

Question 6

The punch bag theory (zaretsky)

Answer 6

The family is where proletariat workers take out stress and frustration at their position in capitalism (opposite to the warm bath theory)

Question 7

Evaluation of Marxism

Answer 7

Feminists believe it concentrates too heavily on social class inequalities but ignores gender