marxist view of the family

opposed to the value consensus based society functionalists adhere to,

marxists see capitalist societies based in unequal conflict between two main classes:

• the capitalist class who controls production 

• the working class whose work is exploited for profit by the capitalist class

marxist's central belief is that the societal institutions such as education, media, religion the state and the family maintain class inequality through Capitalism,

In direct contrast to functionalists, marxists see the family functions performed in support of the capitalist system. marxists view the family as fulfilling some main functions to support capitalism such as:

• inheritance of property

• ideological functions

• a unit of consumption

marxists see production or (whoever controls and owns the productive tools)

machines materials land and labor as the main determining force in shaping all

social institutions including the family

the capitalist class owns and controls production and as production evolves so does the family.

in the origin of the family, private property and the state 1902 friedrich engels who worked with marx suggested that marriage began with early capitalism

the earliest classes were called “primitive communism2 where there was no private property and all members of society own production communally

in this structure there was no family unit just a promiscuous horde or tribe lacking traditional boundaries of sexual relationships.

 as the forces of production developed and the wealth increased, the advent of private property

as well as a class of men able to secure and control the means of production was created this led to patriarchal monogamous nuclear families.

according to engels monogamy was vital to the inheritance of private property whereby men had to be sure of the paternity of their children in order to uphold legitimate inheritance.

engles viewed the rise of the monogamous nuclear family as a “world historical

defeat of the female sex”. this was in part due to male control of women's sexuality rendering them into soul instruments of child rearing. 

marxists believe the overthrow of capitalism and private ownership of production is the only way to free women from the patriarchal control

this would create a classless society where means of productions are collectively owned eliminating the patriarchal nuclear family as there would be no need for inheritance of property through generations

marxists believe the modern family supports the ideology that justifies

inequality by persuading individuals to accept it as fair natural and unchanging

for the sole purpose of upholding capitalism

one of the main ways the family accomplishes this is through the socialization of children into accepting the inevitability of hierarchy and inequality

parents most notably fathers exercise control over their children whereby

children become accustomed to certain realities

•  there will always be someone in charge more often than not a man

• they have to accept working conditions in which they follow orders from capitalist employers

eli zaretsky 1976 believed the family had an additional role by offering a haven from the harsh and exploitative capitalist world offering workers a private life to express themselves freely.

zaretsky also believed this was a false reality as the family cannot meet its members needs due to the domestic servitude of women.

capitalism exploits the production of workers by making a profit off their products sold for more than these workers are paid for their efforts

the family plays a vital role in making profits as an important consumer of produced goods

for example advertisers encourage families to consume the latest products as to not be left behind by other families purchasing the same goods

media targets children to persuade parents to buy goods and spend more Money (pester-power)

children are stigmatized by peers if they do not have the latest goods and products

overall marxists view the family as performing certain functions vital to a capitalist society

• inheritance of private property

• socialization into accepted inequality

• and a source of profits

marxists believe these functions do not benefit the members of the family at all.

as an american marxist, zaretsky portrayed the family in the world of paid work as connected spheres in his ‘capitalism the family and personal life 1976’

he disagreed with radical feminists that blamed patriarchy and not capitalism for oppression of women. he highlighted changes in families as related to economic development

for example in the late middle ages and early days of the industrial revolution men and

women engaged in production with the help of children

victorian laws stopped child labor, forcing mothers to care for children at home and meant to be the sole breadwinners thus causing women to lose family status. 

automated and unsatisfying industry alienated male workers into seeking satisfaction at home thus forcing women to the role of comforting domestic expected to keep beautiful homes cheap goods were purchased to create homes as the sanctuaries from work forcing men to work harder to maintain this false need thus increasing their frustration and placing more pressure on their wives

zaretsky believed encouraging and enforcing career equality through pay would fail at liberating women and improving their familial status

more radical changes were required, similar to engle's suggestions but less threatening to the family love than revolutionary russia. for example, care of children and dependents carriedout by community services run by both sexes. this enables women to work in a communist collective reducing isolation. shorter work hours enabled both sexes to mix with the community eliminating class divisions and family relationships and love would be respected.

jennifer summerville 2000 believes zaretsky exaggerated the family role as a refuge from capitalism as it was also violent and cruel thereby dispelling the imagery of working-class women not having to do paid work and solely taking care of the home. the idea that community child care and dependent services are equal to loving family relationships is debatable.

engel's theory is based on unreliable historical evidence but makes an interesting analogy between men's control of women and capitalists domination of the proletariat.

marxists view that the nuclear family is the dominant structure, ignores the vast and increasing variety of family structures in modern society

feminists indicate that the marxist's emphasis on capitalism and social class, suppresses the feminist-centered aspects of gender inequalities within the family which upholds the interests of men rather than capitalism

functionalists indicate that marxists discount the benefits that the family provides for its members such as intimacy and mutual support

somerville 2000 states that zaretsky exaggerated the idea of the family as a refuge from capitalism as it was often violent and cruel. working-class women have often needed to undertake paid work so the idea of the angel in the house is misleading.

societal institutions like education, media, religion and the family maintain class inequality through capitalism.

the family is sometimes seen as subservient to the economic and ideological needs of capitalism for example as..

• units of consumption

• the family is performing certain functions vital to a capitalist society

• inheritance of private property

• socialization into accepted inequality