marxism

• Engles:

  • families have economic functions for capitalism
  • families make sure that wealth stays in the hands of the bourgeoisie. This is done through inheritance: families pass money down their bloodline. The keeps the bourgeoisie and proletariat separate.
• Althusser:

  • the family is an ideological state apparatus. The family teach people to accept the bourgeoisie and their position in society.
  • the family maintains capitalism as children are socialised to accept working for the bourgeoisie.
• Zaretsky - cushioning effect:

  • proletariat men feel dominant/powerful in their family, they do not feel this when working for the bourgeoisie.
  • these men are oppressed at work but become the oppressors at home.
  • having this power & status at home stops the proletariat from rebelling against the bourgeoisie, which means that the proletariat will continue to work for the bourgeoise.
• Zaretsky also viewed the family as a unit of consumption. The family buys goods (some for no reason) which gives the bourgeoisie more money and gives them more power. Families maintain the capitalist society.
• marxism on the family - AO3:

  • reductionism: only considers how the family supports capitalism, not how other forces may support/feed into capitalism.
  • feminism: ignores how women are still at a worse position than proletariat men.
  • functionalism: ignores how people working helps society e.g., providing for the family.