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The Marxist Perspective on The Family (Emergence of the nuclear family…
The Marxist Perspective on The Family
Marxists argue that the nuclear family performs ideological functions for Capitalism – the family acts as a unit of consumption and teaches passive acceptance of hierarchy.
It is also the institution through which the wealthy pass down their private property to their children, thus reproducing class inequality
Marxism is a ‘structural conflict’ perspective. They see society as structured along class lines with institutions generally working in the interests of the small elite class.
who have economic power (the ‘Bourgeoisie’) and the much larger working class (the ‘Proletariat’).
ideological control
Conflict of interests rarely boils over into revolution because institutions such as the family perform the function of ‘or convincing the masses that the present unequal system is inevitable, natural and good.
Family type generally changes with society – more specifically, the nuclear family emerges not because of the needs of industrialisation, but because of the needs of the capitalist system.
Emergence of the nuclear family
The emergence of Capitalism in the 18th Century, society and the family changed.
Capitalism is based on a system of private ownership – The bourgeois use their own personal wealth to personally invest in businesses in order to make a profit
Bourgeois started to look for ways to pass on their wealth to the next generation, rather than having it shared out amongst the masses
It is the best way of guaranteeing that you are passing on your property to your son, because in a monogamous relationship you have a clear idea of who your own children are.
Ideological Apparatus
The modern nuclear family functions to promote values that ensure the reproduction and maintenance of capitalism.
The family is described as an ideological apparatus – this means it socialises people to think in a way that justifies inequality and encourages people to accept the capitalist system as fair, natural and unchangeable
One way in which this happens is that there is a hierarchy in most families which teaches children to accept there will always be someone in “authority” who they must obey, which then mirrors the hierarchy of boss-worker in paid employment in later life.
Capitalists/business owners want to keep workers’ wages down so they can make a profit, but to do so they must also be able to sell the workers goods.
Families must keep up with the material goods/services acquired by their neighbours and peers
The media and companies target children in their advertising who then persuade their parents through pester power to buy more expensive items.