Marxist views

• Marxists


  Think the family serves the interests of society as it is currently arranged, but disagree with the way society is currently structured, seeing it as only benefitting a wealthy minority
• Functionalists


  Think the family serves the interests of society as it is currently arranged
• Marxist view of the family


  • A conservative institution
  • Serves the interests of capitalism
• The family weakens workers against their bosses


  Workers will put up with lower wages and worse conditions because the risk of no job is not only their risk, but also that of their dependents
• The family acts as a unit of consumption


  Large numbers of consumer products are marketed directly at families, (including via children and their "pester power") providing capitalists with profits