Marxism On The Family

Question 1

What theory’s is Marxist

Answer 1

Structural and conflict

Question 2

Who is the theory based on

Answer 2

Karl Marx 1818-1883

Question 3

What do Marxists believe about society

Answer 3

Societies are unequal and unfair in regard to social class and think capitalist system is unequal

Question 4

What do Marxists think about the capitalist system?

Answer 4

It’s unequal as based on oppression and exploitation. Economic system organised for production of profit and elite controls wealth of society

Question 5

Who owns means of production

Answer 5

The elite controls wealth and means of production

Question 6

What is the bourgeoisie

Answer 6

The ruling class who owns factories

Question 7

What is the proletariat

Answer 7

The working class

Question 8

What was the industrial revolution

Answer 8

People worked in very long hours on poor conditions for poor pay in factories

Question 9

What did Marc say about the industrial revolution

Answer 9

See society as a split between bourgeoise who owned factories and lived in luxury and proletariat who scarped by on poor wages with limited control on their lives

Question 10

What do Marxists compare society too

Answer 10

A league table due to completion between social classes. Bourgeoise benefit as they make money through surplus value

Question 11

What is surplus value

Answer 11

The extra value added by workers as they produce more than they’re paid for

Question 12

What did Marx believe would lead to a communism society

Answer 12

Workers would revolt leading to a lrevoultion and overthrow of bourgeoise leading to a new society called communism

Question 13

What’s a communism

Answer 13

Classless society whereby property and recourses are public ally owned and wealth is evenly distributed

Question 14

What do Marxists believe about the family

Answer 14

That the functions of the family benefit capitalism and that families are bad for people and society

Question 15

What did Engels 1884 Believe

Answer 15

That nuclear family only arose as capitalism developed. Early stages of human evolution no rules limiting sexual relationships and no i situation of marriage. Development of capitalism means people starting accumulating wealth and private property. Laws characterised by inheritance, monogamy was essential as men has to be certain of their paternity to ensure that their legitamit heirs inherited from them.

Question 16

Why did women go along with marriage according to Engels

Answer 16

Inheritance, monogamy, economic security which made them glorified prostitutes

Question 17

How might family benefit capitalist society

Answer 17

Family bring children in as same class
Socialise children into ruling class ideology creating false conciousness 
Work them but things putting money back into capitalist system 
Women provide emotional support/ advice to keep them working

Question 18

According to Zaretsky What were the four key ways that the family benefits capitalism

Answer 18

Nuclear family benefits capitalism by reproducing and socialising future workers, provide emotional support for current workers via consumption

Question 19

Strengths of Marxism

Answer 19

First theory to link family to capitalism and economy and offers an explanation of why families first developed in society
Explains inequalities of wealth between families
Explores a conflict approach to the family and questions the notion that nuclear family is always good for society

Question 20

Weaknesses of Marxism

Answer 20

Many sociologists arthur that is simplistic to assume family is entirely shaped and connected to capitalism system as ignored other factors.
Functionalists argue that this approach places too much emphasis on conflict and ignores the satisfaction that people get from being members of a family.
Outdated

Question 21

Criticisms of Engels

Answer 21

Monogamy and family found in hunter gatherer societies when capitalist didn’t exist.
Men don’t always marry for heir to property.
Outdated as women have financial independence

Question 22

Criticisms of zaretsky

Answer 22

Family providing emotional support doesn’t happen to help    capitalism; positive function to benefit individual family members and society.
Some working class parents resist ruling class ideology when socialising their children.
Not all married couples have children and voluntary childlessness is increasing