Marxism

Friedrich Engels

Marxist- Humans used to live in ‘promiscuous hordes’ with no private private ownership but the era of capitalism led to monogamy which are the basis of nuclear families. Capitalism and let to accumulation of private property, and monogamy lead to wealth only being distributed to direct descendants

Eli Zaretsky

Marxist - Family supports capitalists ideology through: socialisation of children (superstructure, norms values), Psychological outlet (comfort device), Economic Function (unit of consumption)

Louis Althusser

Marxist - Family is apart of the Ideological State Apparatus, family socialise us in to values that make us more profitable workers and keep proletariat into false class consciousness.

Margaret Benston

Marxist Feminist - Females in nuclear families benefit capitalism: mothers reproduce new gen of workers, women are responsible for most domestic tasks if they were paid cost the government £700 billion, Female domestic labourers ensure male workers are healthy and efficient, Women especially mothers of children form a reserve army of labour.

Fran Ansley

Marxist Feminist - The wife act as a ‘safety valve’ for capitalism instead of men taking frustration out on ruling class or workplace they redirect it to the home especially the wife. Married women are described as the ‘takers of shit’