Early traditional Marxists like Engels (1820-95) believed that the monogamous nuclear family developed as a means of passing on private property to heirs. The family, coupled with monogamy, was an ideal mechanism as it provided proof of paternity (who the father was) and so property could be passed on to the right people. Women's position in this family was not much different from that of prostitutes in that a financial deal was struck - she provided sex and heirs in return for the economic security her husband offered.
