perspectives on the nuclear family- capitalism

Inheritance of property

A key factor determining the shape of all social institutions including the family.
The rich owns and controls society’s forces
In modern society, the capitalist class owns and controls these means of production

Which sociologist talks about the inheritance of property?

Engels

what does Engels say about the inheritance of property?

There is no family- every person in the family has a role to play like the women being known to stay at home and fulfil any household duties whereas the the men they had to do the capitalist labour.

A women’s sexuality also became under male control for the production of children and are forced to marry a man and be under their control.

Who would argue over Engels point of view about the inheritance of property?

Feminists because that women are exploited in the nuclear family by capitalism and says that women should be allowed to be whoever they wanted to be.

A liberal feminists like Sommerville (2000) argues that women in modern society now have a more choice if they want to marry or not and that what Engels has said is outdated.

ideological functions

ideology means a set of beliefs or ideas that justify inequality and maintain capitalist system by persuading people to accept it is fair and unchangeable.

The family does this by socialising children the idea that there is a hierarchy in the family and parents teach them who’s in charge (typically the males)

Which sociologists talks about the ideological functions?

Zaretsky (1976)

What does Zaretsky say about the ideological functions?

the family performs an ideological function by offering “haven” from the harsh and exploitive world of capitalism outside.

This means that children are having to obey their parents in order to gain this haven and that their future will be much better in order to learn how society works.

Who would argue over Zaretsky’s point of view of the ideological functions?

Functionalist Parsons would argue that children may not always have to see this hierarchy of the family as in modern society theres other agencies that children could adapt from such as the schools and peer groups can help them learn how sicety works rather than their parents.

A unit of consumption

this is when capitalism exploits the labour of the workers by deliberately making them add the nuclear family onto cereal boxes so it makes children happy and also demonstrates how a perfect family should actually be like.

Which sociologist talks about the unit of consumption?

Marxists

What does Marxists say about the unit of consumption?

the family plays a major role in the capitalist profits as it purchases these goods: advertisers urge families to consume all the latest products so its target is children which is known as pester power.

Which sociologist argues over Marxists point of view of unit of consumption?

the new right Murray- he talks about how not all families are part of wanting the nuclear family and money- some of the poorest class cares more about welfare benefits than work.

What is the nuclear family?

a family made up of 4 people: a husband, a wife, one son and one daughter

What is capitalism?

people who are part of the 20th century that thinks that men have power over women, the richer class has power over the poor class.

Why does the nuclear family benefit capitalism?

the nuclear family was one of the expectations in the family during the capitalist times, this means that everyone would want one daughter and one son instead of too many people.

Who believe in the nuclear family benefiting capitalism?

Marxists, Zaretsky, Engels.