Marxist view of the family

Marxist general beliefs

• ‘s______ c_____ theory’ -They see society as structured along c____ l____with institutions generally working in the interests of who .

• The Bourgeoise gain their wealth from doing what

• see all societies institutions such as e_____, m_____and f____ as helping to maintain what

• the functions of the family are performed purely for what - contrasts with what view

Marxist general beliefs

• ‘structural conflict’ -They see society as structured along class lines with institutions generally working in the interests of the small elite class who have economic power (the ‘Bourgeoisie’)

• The Bourgeoise gain their wealth from exploiting the proletariat.

• see all societies institutions such as education, media and family as helping to maintain class inequality and capitalism

• the functions of the family are performed purely for the benefit of the capitalist system- contrasts with functionalist view that the family benefits both society as a whole and all the individual members of the family

what are the 3 Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism :

• inheritance of property

• ideological functions

• unit of consumption

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : inheritance of property

• According to Engels, the nuclear family only emerged with what.

• Before Capitalism, how were societies and what did they perform

• In such societies, property was c_____ owned, and the family structure reflected this – there were no families as such, but t____ g____ existed in a kind of ‘p______ h____’ in which there were no what

• All members of society owned production communally

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : inheritance of property

• According to Engels, the nuclear family only emerged with Capitalism.

• Before Capitalism, , societies were classless and they practised a form of ‘primitive communism’ in which there was no private property.

• In such societies, property was collectively owned, and the family structure reflected this – there were no families as such, but tribal groups existed in a kind of ‘promiscuous horde’ in which there were no restrictions on sexual relationships.

• All members of society owned production communally

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : inheritance of property

• As capitalist societies began to emerge in the ___th Century, so came the development of what which brought about the p__ m_____ m_____ family

• According to Engels why was monogamy (having one wife and strictly only being sexual with her) essential

• However in Engel’s view this has led to ‘a world historical defeat female sex’ -where women have been what

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : inheritance of property

• As capitalist societies began to emerge in the 18th Century, so came the development of private property and a class of men who secure control of production and built their own business which brought about the patriarchal monogamous nuclear family

• According to Engels, monogamy (having one wife and strictly only being sexual with her) became essential because of inheritance of private property - men had to be certain of the paternity of their children in order to ensure that their legitimate heirs inherited from them- in a monogamous relationship you have a clear idea of who your own children are.

• However in Engel’s view this has led to ‘a world historical defeat female sex’- where women have been turned into a ‘mere instrument’ for the production of children

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : inheritance of property

• why do Marxists argue that only with the overthrow of capitalism and private ownership there no longer be a need for the patriarchal family

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : inheritance of property

Marxists argue that only with the overthrow of capitalism and private ownership there no longer be a need for the patriarchal family since there will no need to have a means of transmitting private property down the generations

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : ideological functions

• there are set of i____/b___ that justify inequality and maintain the capitalist system- persuading the proletariat to do what this

• Family does this by s____ children into the idea that what 2 things are inevitable- p____ power over children a____ them to the idea that there always has to be someone in charge

• this prepares them for what

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : ideological functions

• there are set of ideas/beliefs that justify inequality and maintain the capitalist system- persuading the proletariat to accept it as fair, natural or unchangeable-

• Family does this by socialising children into the idea that hierarchy and inequality is inevitable- Parental power over children accustoms them tot he idea that there always has to be someone in charge

• this prepares them for a working life of accepting hierarchy and orders from capitalist employers

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : ideological functions

• According to Eli Z____ (1976) the family seemingly also performs the ideological function of what

• however Zaretsky argues this us an i____- the family cannot meet its members needs e.g it is based on the d____ s___ of w____

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : ideological functions

• According to Eli Zaretsky (1976) the family seemingly also performs the ideological functions of offering an apparent ‘haven' from the harsh and exploitative world of capitalism

• however Zaretsky argues this us an illusion- the family cannot meet its members needs e.g it is based on the domestic servitude of women

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : ideological functions

• Nicos Poulantzas says family is used to do what - family is nothing more than what

• the family teaches children to c____ and c____, preparing them to become what who can be easily exploited by the c____ s____

Marxist functions that they see family as fulling for capitalism : ideological functions

Nicos Poulantzas says family is used to control and create values to support capitalism - family is nothing more than ‘an ideological conditioning device’

• the family teaches children to conform and cooperate, preparing them to become compliant workers who can be easily exploited by the capitalist system

Marxist functions that they see family as fulfilling for capitalism : unit of consumption

• how does capitalism exploit the labour of workers

• Capitalism also thrives on what and families are seen as what

• how does family indirectly supports capitalism

Marxist functions that they see family as fulfilling for capitalism : unit of consumption

• Capitalism exploits the labour of workers, making a profit by selling the products of their labour for more than it takes to produce these commodities

• Capitalism also thrives on the production and sale of commodities, and families are seen as the primary consumers of these commodities-

• family indirectly supports capitalism by purchasing the goods that the capitalist class produces, generating profit for capitalists.

  
  

Marxist functions that they see family as fulfilling for capitalism : unit of consumption

Capitalists/ businesses must create demand for their products. The family builds demand by:

• significant amounts of a_____ and TV programmes influencing parents to do what

• The media and companies target children in their advertising who then do what. - what is done in Sweden that is different to the UK

• what happens to the Children who lack the latest products

Marxist functions that they see family as fulfilling for capitalism : unit of consumption

Capitalists/ businesses must create demand for their products. The family builds demand by:

• significant amounts of advertising and TV programmes influencing parents to ‘keep up with the Joneses’-consuming all the latest products to keep up with peers

• The media and companies target children in their advertising who then persuade their parents through pester power to buy more expensive items. This is particularly bad in the UK where there few legal restrictions on adverts aimed at children; in Sweden advertising aimed at children under 12 is illegal.

• Children who lack the latest products are mocked and stigmatised by their peers

Marxist functions that they see family as fulfilling for capitalism : unit of consumption

• Eli Zaretsky says the family supports workers to help them carry on working

Evaluation of the Marxist view of family- criticisms

• Marxists assume that the nuclear family is dominant and ignoring what

• Feminists argue that the Marxist focus on social class inequalities downplays what -family primarily serves the interests of who, not what

• Zaretsky is criticised for what

• Some families are a____-c___ and socialise their children to be what

Evaluation of the Marxist view of family- criticisms

• Marxists assume that the nuclear family is dominant and ignores the increasing variety of family structures in society today

• Feminists argue that the Marxist focus on social class inequalities downplays the role of patriarchy- family primarily serves the interests of men, not capitalism

• Zaretsky is criticised for exaggerating the extent to which the family can escape from alienating work as he ignores the fact that the family an be a place of cruelty, neglect and violence

• Some families are anti-capitalist and socialise their children to be critical of the ruling class