Family - Marxism

Engels

Engels believes that the nuclear family emerged in response to Capitalism. As capitalist’s became rich they needed to ensure they passed their property on to their rightful heir. The best way to do that was via the nuclear family and monogamous relationships, as you could be far more certain who your biological children were. This gave men control over women and Engel states women were essentially prostitutes who traded sex and children for financial security.

Evaluation of Engels → Engels can be criticized for being outdated as now most women work, own property, have independent incomes, and are less likely to marry for financial security or social necessity.

Zaretsky

Primary socialisation - Teaches children the dominant ideology (capitalist's way of thinking). Children learn that parents are the one’s who have the most power and they have to obey them much like a boss.

Safe Haven - The family is a safe haven for working men as the family is a place where they can relax from the stressful and exploitative world of work. Zaretsky says this is based on the exploitation of women whose unpaid domestic labour creates the illusion of a safe haven.

This is basically the same ideas as Parsons but as a Marxist Zaretsky sees this as a negative thing that benefits capitalists while Parsons sees it as positive.

Unit of consumption - Capitalists only make money if they sell their products. Most of these products are targeted at the family, this is exploitative as most workers buy products for much more than they got paid to make them. The media encourages through adverts like ‘keeping up with the Jones’ or pester power ( kids annoying parents to buy stuff)