Marxism & the family

• What is the Marxist view of the Family?

  -Marxists believe that the functions of the family purely benefit the capitalist system and nothing else.

  -They state 3 functions of the family that do this:

  -Inheritance of property

  -Ideological Functions/ Socialisation

  -Unit of consumption
• How is the inheritance of property a function of the family that benefits capitalism?

  (Engels) - The nuclear family & monogomy came about as a sure way for men to pass on their property and wealth to a legitimate heir, therefore by forming nuclear families and having monogamous relationships the rich stay rich,(they inherit wealth) and the poor stay poor (they inherit debt etc.), supporting the capitalist society.
• How are ideological functions/ socialisation a function of the family that benefits capitalism?

  • (Zaretsky)- The family is used as an agent of socialisation for children to accept the capitalist ideology.
  • The family socialises children into a hierarchical structure and that inequality is inevitable, parents power over children allows them to accept that their will always be someone with power over them and prepares the for a future working life.
  • Zaretsky also says the family performs the ideological function of beinag a safe space from the harsh & exploitive world.
• What is an evaluation of Zaretsky’s theory of ideological functions/socialisation in the family?

  -Women are takers of shit and it is not a relaxing environment at home
• How is Unit of consumption a function of the family which benefits capitalism?

  • Capitalism Exploits the labour of workers by making a profit by selling the products of THEIR labour.
  • (Zaretsky)- the family therefore plays a huge role in generating profits
  • Children ask for the lastest goods through ‘pester power’, families are influenced to buy products through society & the media.
  • The pursuit of consumerism & materialism is good for capitalism too, because it acts as a distraction from the inequalities of capitalism
• What are the evaluations of Zaretsky’s view of the family

  • Rarely considers that some W.C parents may resist ruling-class ideology by the teaching their children norms & values that are a product of W.C culture and therefore empower their children with knowledge of capitalist inequality and exploitation.
  • Some W.C families may be well aware of the inequalities of capitalism but choose to overlook it due to their lives of comfort.