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marxist function of the family - Coggle Diagram
marxist function of the family
1) inheritance of property
pre and post industrial families
pre-industrial
everyone shared labour communally, this was before capitalism and what Marx calls 'primitive communism'
no family, instead what
ENGLES
calls 'promiscuous horde' where there was no restrictions on sexual relationships
post-industrial
capitalism comes about, the ruling class now own and control all means of production.
MARX AND ENGLES
call this the MONOGAMOUS NUCLEAR FAMILY which was developed as a way to pass inheritance/private property onto heirs
monogamy important because men had to be certain of the paternity of their children in order to ensure their property went to the legitimate heir.
in the MONOGAMOUS NUCLEAR FAMILY
MARX AND ENGLES
say the woman's role is similar to a prostitutes, sex in return for financial protection
ENGLES
says this turns women into MERE INSTRUMENTS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CHILDREN
only the overthrowing of capitalism will free women from patriarchal oppression
2) ideological functions
the family acts to push the capitalist ideology
ALTHUSSER
one way in which it does this is by socialising children to believe that the hierarchy and inequality are inevitable. Parental, especially paternal power over children accustoms children to the idea that there will always be a man in charge
prepares them for working life where they will have to respond to a man in charge
ZARETSKY
says the family acts as a 'safe haven' for working men, where they are protected from the harsh exploitation from the outside world
HOWEVER he says this is an illusion as men are exploited in the workforce, come home and are in a safe place so forget about their troubles at work, so they go back to work and are exploited the next day. CAPITALIST CYCLE CONTINUES SUPPORTED BY THE FAMILY
3) a unit of consumption
capitalism exploits the workers, by making them pay for what they have made for more than it pays them. The family plays an important role in this as they are who buys the items
The media targets children through advertising, who have PESTER POWER to convince parents to buy for them, spend more
Children who lack the nicest clothes or latest trends are mocked and stigmatised by their peers
Advertisers urge families to 'keep up with the Joneses' and buy the products to do this
EVALUATION
BROWN
says marxists ignore the meanings family has for some individuals, what about men who marry for love instead of passing down property- very old fashioned view
THOMPSON
says marxist view of the family doesn't account for proletariat families who reject the capitalist beliefs and socialisation.
WILKINSON
says many women work and don't need to marry and conceive for protection, Wilkinson refers to the genderquake changing the gender roles