Engels

• Engels was specifically interested in how the private nuclear family emerged.
• Before society existed with a class structure, there was a form of society called 'primitive communism'.
• Engels argued under Primitive communism there were no restrictions on sexual relationships; society is a 'promiscuous hoard'.
• Engels argued as society began to evolve and forces of production began to develop wealth increased.
• As wealth increased, those who had accumulated it sought ways to keep it.
• ENGELS

  • They wanted to keep their wealth to reinvest it in their own families and businesses to further increase their wealth and profits without having to share them with everybody else.
• ENGELS

  • 'Private Ownership' and legal contracts emerged to support the notion of private ownership.
• ENGELS

  • The Bourgeoisie now had legal rights to their own lands. The means of production and the profits which were produced as a result of it.
• How do you ensure property and capital stays with your family after you die?

  1. Marriage
  2. Inheritance
• In Promiscuous Hoards, parentage and heritage was often unknown, but marriage ensures monogamous nuclear families and you can be certain of the heirs to your wealth.
• Engels argued the monogamous nuclear family emerged alongside capitalism and the emergence of private property as a way to ensure wealth stays within the hands of the ruling class.
• Engels believes this arrangement is problematic as it reproduces inequality.

  • Children of the rich grow up in to wealth.
  • Children of the poor remain poor.
• For Engels, the nuclear family is about proof of heritage/blood lines as a way of protecting the interests of the Bourgeoisie.
• Engels argued is also brought women's sexuality under male control; "an instrument for the production of children".
• Engels says the solution is:

  The Proletariat awake from false consciousness, seize the means of production, overthrow the Bourgeoisie in a violent revolution, and move society from capitalism to communism.
• criticisms of Engels

  • Assumes the dominant family type in society is the nuclear family; ignores diversity of families and family types.
  • Nuclear families still exist in non-capitalist societies.
  • There has been an increase in gender equality in capitalist societies without the need for revolution.
  • Overemphasises the role the economy plays in rise of the monogamous nuclear family.
  • Unromantic View of the family and of marriage in general.