marxist theories and the family

engels

• primitive communism
• inheritance of property
• loss of human species essence

engels - primitive communism

hunter-gatherer societies that didn't have small family units and no concept of private property

engels - inheritance of property

the bourgeois practice of land and other assets being handed by the owner to the eldest son

engels - loss of human species essence

primitive communism has been lost. private property and monogamous family has only been constructed to solve inheritance

engels - monogamous nuclear family

the family unit that's become the norm in private property-based societies

engels - promiscuous horde

pre-modern human communities with no concept of marriage, fidelity or sexual restraint

zaretksy - family creates an illusion of security

family is made to appear as cosy and safe from work. it is an ideological construct, it isn't as appealing as it is but you're made to feel positive towards it.

hochschild

• commodification of family services
• emotional labour
• alienation

hochschild - commodification of family services

the process of turning goods and services into consumer products by capitalism

hochschild - emotional labour

family activities which are supposed to entail personal, loving involvement

hochschild - alienation

a sense of estrangement from work, from family activities and even from one's own self

marcuse - family as a unit of consumption

families are targeted by capitalism as consumers of goods and services

(criticism) primitive communism may not be as positive as engels believes

others argue that primitive human life was violent and brutal with perilous challenges

(criticism) hochschild

doesn't recognise the role of personal services that reduce relations and emotional support they provide