Marxist Views On The Family Flashcards
(6 cards)
Introduction
➞ Marxism is a structuralist conflict theory ; views family as agent for preserving position of dominant ruling class - Bourgeois
➞ believes family exploits workers on behalf of rich
➞ however, functionalists view family as harmonious institution results in well socialised people
First paragraph
➞ Engels viewed the family as a social construct, changed over time due to money and property.
➞ rise of private property led development of monogamous, patriarchal family structure, which he believed essential to ensure in inheritance.
➞ the family oppressed women, tying them to domestic roles and childcare
➞ NF arises as most efficient way to ensure wealth + private property inheritances by descendants
➞ resulted in working + ruling class
➞ inheritance act 1833 in England, creating inheritance through family members
➞ this shows modern NF created by capitalism to ensure wealth passed down
➞ however, Laslett found most families in medieval Britain were nuclear due low life expectancy + high IMR, t4 before capitalism
➞ also criticised as no evidence NF created for wealth + over-simplify different family types
Second paragraph
➞ Zaretsky claim family in capitalist society benefits ruling class
➞ family socialises children, esp WC, into norms + values of capitalist society, therefore children see inequality as natural + exploited later life
➞ family acts as a safe haven for workers against oppressive + exploitive capitalist system. Problems of poor pay etc, diverted by attention of family, worker return next day ready freshly exploited
➞ unit of consumption - capitalists exploit workers make profit, family helps profit by safe haven
➞ ONS - 1970, when Z view published, 52% females worked PT/FT, therefore could provide safe haven to help husband
➞ family aids children socialisation through gender roles + behaviours setting up capitalist system of male breadwinner + expressive female role
➞ this shows Z view family as preparing future workers of capitalist society
➞ feminists, not case for women, ONS 72% employed - no safe haven
➞ Z guilty over-emphasising how family shaped by needs of capitalism, Marxists little research to find out members family’s do have this relationship with capitalism
Third paragraph
➞ Bourdieu, family responsible justifying class differences
➞ class inequalities reproduced generation after generation in families
➞ MC children succeed more than WC as parents give economic capital on form of material e.g computers, textbooks
➞ B also claims MC parents cultural capital, refers to knowledge, attitudes + values of MC
➞ allows MC to succeed + escape oppressed capitalist work system
➞ Savage evidence states lifestyles MC differ to WC
➞ MC more disposable income spend, t4 children attend better schools + uni = high paying job
➞ t4, creates class differences that NF creates, leading to capitalism as WC exploited
➞ Parsons class differences made through educational system + meritocracy, not family
➞ all children = chances success
Fourth paragraph
➞ Marxist- feminists, Benston + Ansley, position of females in NF benefits capitalism
➞ mothers reproduce next generation of workers + socialise into capitalist norms + values
➞ Benston claimed females ensure male workers healthy + efficient, t4 profitable, ensuring they return to clean home + providing meals etc
➞ women also responsible for majority unpaid domestic tasks
BSA: house work - M=8 F=13, childcare- M=13 F=23. Overall women to twice as much + 60% unfair
➞ ferri + smith, 4% father’s take responsibility
➞ t4, family benefits man’s job by taking care of him as being exploited daily
➞ over-focus on negatives of family + ignore real satisfaction it gives people e.g being a mother
➞ ignore recent changes in womens positions - Wilkinson’s genderquake + Sharpes study
➞ diversity of family forms - dual earner, single parent
Outro
➞ Marxist view on family reinforces capitalism through socialising children to accept ideology of ruling class + help maintain capitalist system by ensuring renewal of workforce + wives provide emotional support
➞ however, guilty over-emphasising how family shaped by capitalism + ignore recent changes
