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The Marxist perspective on the family
- Marxist sociologist see capitalist society as based on unequal conflict
between two social classes. The capitalist class: who owns the means of
production and the working class: whose labour the capitalist exploit for
profit. This, for Marxist, the functions of the family are performed
purely for the benefit of the capitalist society.
- Inheritance of property:
- Key factor determining the shape of all
social institutions is the mode of
production - who owns and controls
society's productive forces. In modern
society, it is the capitalist class that
owns and controls these ,eans of
production.
- In Engel's view, monogamy became
essential because of the inheritance of
private property - men had to be certain of
their paternity of their children in order to
ensure that their legitimate heirs inherited
from them.
- As the forces of production developed, society's wealth
began to increase. Along with the increased wealth came the
development of private property, as a class of men emerged
who were able to secure control of the means of production.
This change eventually brought about the patriarchal
monogamous nuclear family.
- Key factor determining the shape of all
social institutions is the mode of
production - who owns and controls
society's productive forces. In modern
society, it is the capitalist class that
owns and controls these ,eans of
production.
- Ideological functions:
- Marxist argue that the family today performs key
ideological functions for capitalism. By "Ideology",
Marxist mean a set of ideas or beliefs that justify
inequality and maintain the capitalist system by
persuading people to accept it as fair and inevitable.
- One way in which the family does this is by socialising children
into the idea that hierarchy and inequality are inevitable.
Parental power over children accustoms them to the idea that
there are always has to to be someone in charge (usually a
man) and prepares them for the working life in which they will
accept orders from their capitalist employers.
- According to Eli Zaretsky (1976), the family also performs an ideological
function by offering an apparent "haven" from the harsh and exploitative
world of capitalism outside in which workers can be themselves and have
a private life. However, Zaretsky argues that this is largely an illusion - the
family cannot meet the needs of all its members. For example, it is based
on the domestic servitude of woman.
- Marxist argue that the family today performs key
ideological functions for capitalism. By "Ideology",
Marxist mean a set of ideas or beliefs that justify
inequality and maintain the capitalist system by
persuading people to accept it as fair and inevitable.
- A unit of consumption
- These functions maintain capitalist society: the inheritance
of private property, socialisation into acceptance of
inequality, and a source of profit. In Marxist view, while
these may benefit capitalism, they do not benefit the
members of the family.
- Capitalism exploits the labour of the workers,
making a profit by selling the products of their labour
for more then it pays to produce it. The family
therefore plays a major role in generating profits,
since it is an important market for the sale of
consumer goods.
- The media target children, who use "pester power"
to persuade parents to spend more.
- Children who lack the latest clothes or
"must have" gadgets are mocked and
stigmatised by their peers.
- Advertisers urge families to "keep up with
the Joneses" by consuming all the latest
products.
- The media target children, who use "pester power"
to persuade parents to spend more.
- These functions maintain capitalist society: the inheritance
of private property, socialisation into acceptance of
inequality, and a source of profit. In Marxist view, while
these may benefit capitalism, they do not benefit the
members of the family.
- Criticisms of Marxist perspective:
- Marxism tend to assume that the nuclear family is dominant in
capitalist society. This ignores the wide and increasing variety of family
structures found in society today.
- Feminist argue that the Marxist emphasis on social class and
capitalism underestimates the importance of gender inequalities
within the fa,mi;y. In the feminist view, the family primarily serves
the interests of men rather than capitalism.
- Functionalists argue that Marxists ignore the
very benefits that the family provides for its
members, such as intimacy and mutual
support.
- Marxism tend to assume that the nuclear family is dominant in
capitalist society. This ignores the wide and increasing variety of family
structures found in society today.
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