Outline and explain 2 ways in which the family supports capitalism.

Question 1

Point 1

Answer 1

Engels

• clear economic function for capitalism, ensuring wealth remained in the hands of the bourgesouise
• family relations, based on clear legal contracts, facilitate inheritance and therefore when the rich die it maintains there wealth by passing it down a generation

Question 2

Point 2

Answer 2

Ideological function

• family is an ideology in that it socialises children into idea that hierarchy and inequality is inevitable
• parents power over children warms them to the idea that there is always someone in charge, prepares for workforce

Zaretsky- family offers an apparent ‘haven’ from the harsh exploitive world of capitalism