Theory Focuses on How Capitalism, Social Class, and Power Influence Marriages and Families.
Class notes on Engel's theory of the relationship between capitalism, private property and the family; and contemporary marxist views on the family.
Marxists fence that the nuclear family performs ideological functions for Capitalism – the family acts as a unit of consumption and teaches passive credence of hierarchy. It is also the institution through which the wealthy pass downwardly their private property to their children, thus reproducing class inequality.
This post has been written primarily for students studying the families and household choice equally part of A-level folklore.
Earlier reading this post, you might like to expect at this summary of the central ideas of Marxism.
Overview of the Marxist Perspective
Marxism is a 'structural conflict' perspective. They see lodge equally structured along grade lines with institutions by and large working in the interests of the small aristocracy grade who have economic power (the 'Bourgeoisie') and the much larger working course (the 'Proletariat'). The Bourgeoise gain their wealth from exploiting the proletariat. In that location is thus a conflict of interests betwixt the Bourgeoise and the Proletariat.
Nonetheless, this disharmonize of interests rarely boils over into revolution because institutions such every bit the family perform the function of 'ideological control', or disarming the masses that the present unequal organisation is inevitable, natural and proficient.
Something else Marxists advise nearly the family (similar the Functional Fit theory) is that the family type more often than not changes with society – more specifically, the nuclear family unit emerges not because of the needs of industrialisation, but because of the needs of the backer system.
Explaining the emergence of the nuclear family – Engels
According to Engels, the monogamous nuclear family only emerged with Capitalism. Earlier Capitalism, traditional, tribal societies were classless and they practised a form of 'primitive communism' in which there was no private property. In such societies, property was collectively endemic, and the family unit structure reflected this – there were no families as such, but tribal groups existed in a kind of 'promiscuous horde' in which there were no restrictions on sexual relationships.
Even so, with the emergence of Capitalism in the 18th Century, society and the family unit changed. Commercialism is based on a system of private ownership – The bourgeois utilise their own personal wealth to personally invest in businesses in social club to make a turn a profit, they don't invest for the benefit of everyone else.
Somewhen the Conservative started to wait for ways to laissez passer on their wealth to the next generation, rather than having information technology shared out amongst the masses, and this is where the monogamous nuclear family comes from. It is the best way of guaranteeing that you lot are passing on your belongings to your son, because in a monogamous relationship you lot have a clear idea of who your own children are.
Ultimately what this organization does is to reproduce inequality – The children of the rich grow up into wealth, while the children of the poor remain poor. Thus the nuclear family unit benefits the Bourgeois more than than the proletariat.
Criticisms of Engels
Gender inequality conspicuously preceded Capitalism….. The vast bulk of tribes in Africa and Asia are patriarchal, with women being barred from owning property, having no political power, and having to do most of the kid intendance and difficult physical labour.
Wealthy Capitalist economies such as the Britain and Us take seen the fastest improvements in gender equality over the last 100 years. Capitalism, increasing wealth and gender equality within a nation seem to be correlated.
Contemporary Marxism – The family as an Ideological Apparatus
The modern nuclear family unit functions to promote values that ensure the reproduction and maintenance of capitalism. The family is described equally an ideological appliance – this means it socialises people to think in a way that justifies inequality and encourages people to have the capitalist system as fair, natural and unchangeable.
One way in which this happens is that at that place is a bureaucracy in well-nigh families which teaches children to accept in that location volition always be someone in "authority" who they must obey, which then mirrors the bureaucracy of boss-worker in paid employment in later life.
Contemporary Marxism – The Family unit every bit a Unit of Consumption
Capitalists/business owners want to proceed workers' wages down and so they can make a profit, only to practice so they must also be able to sell the workers goods i.east. they must create demand for their products. The family builds demand for goods in a number of ways
1) Families must go along upwardly with the material goods/services acquired by their neighbours and peers e.chiliad. family unit holidays, cars – this is known "Keeping upwardly with the Joneses". There are significant amounts of advertising and TV programmes influencing parents in this way.
2) The media and companies target children in their advertising who then persuade their parents through pester power to buy more expensive items. This is particularly bad in the U.k. where at that place few legal restrictions on adverts aimed at children; in Sweden advertising aimed at children nether 12 is illegal.
Overall Criticisms of Marxism
- It's too deterministic – it assumes people passively accept socialisation and family life, and that the hereafter is pre-adamant. At that place are plenty of families who reject the consumerist lifestyle and many families bring their children up to be independent thinkers.
- The Marxist perspective ignores family diverseness in capitalist lodge, the nuclear family is no longer the chief blazon of family. In fact, family breakdown may be better for Capitalism – as divorce is expensive and more money has to be spent on maintaining family relationships and later on forming new families.
- Feminists argue that the Marxist focus on social course inequalities downplays the role of patriarchy, which is the existent source of female oppression. Feminists would betoken out that sex inequalities exist within all families, irrespective of social course background.
- Marxism ignores the benefits of nuclear family unit e.thousand. both parents support the children. The New Correct point out that this is the most functional type of environment in which to raise children, and the nuclear family is found in most societies around the world, suggesting it is something people choose.
A Level Sociology Families and Households Revision Bundle
If you like this sort of thing, then you might similar my AS Sociology Families and Households Revision Bundle which contains the following:
- 50 pages of revision notes roofing all of the sub-topics within families and households
- listen maps in pdf and png format – nine in total, covering perspectives on the family unit
- brusk respond exam practice questions and exemplar answers – 3 examples of the x marker, 'outline and explicate' question.
- 9 essays/ essay plans spanning all the topics inside the families and households topic.
Signposting and Related Posts
The Marxist perspective on the family is normally taught subsequently the Functionalist perspective on the Family, and is normally the 2nd of five perspectives on the family within the families and households module in A-level sociology.
Essay plan on the Marxist perspective on the family
Marxist Feminist Perspectives on the Family
Feminist Perspectives on the Family
Source: https://revisesociology.com/2014/02/10/marxist-perspective-family/
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