Marxism
Family Diversity
Society is in a state of conflict between the rich and the poor
Ruling class is known as the Bourgeoisie, they exploit workers
Subject class is known as the Proletariat,they experience false class consciousness – unaware of exploitation
Family serves capitalism in 4 ways:
Socialises children - reproducing labour power, acceptance of capitalism
Women’s domestic work unpaid - this benefits capitalism
Safety valve for stresses/frustrations of working class men
Unit of consumption - buys goods/services provided by capitalism
Engels:
Attempted to trace evolution
Monogamous nuclear family developed to help the inheritance of private property
Designed to control women and protect property
Zaretsky:
The family “props up” capitalism
Males who work have power at home, helps them accept oppression in wider society
Criticisms:
Anthropologists - emergence of family did not coincide with the emergence of capitalism
Ignores family diversity - sees the nuclear family as being determined solely by economy
Ruling class is known as the Bourgeoisie, they exploit workers
Subject class is known as the Proletariat,they experience false class consciousness – unaware of exploitation
Family serves capitalism in 4 ways:
Socialises children - reproducing labour power, acceptance of capitalism
Women’s domestic work unpaid - this benefits capitalism
Safety valve for stresses/frustrations of working class men
Unit of consumption - buys goods/services provided by capitalism
Engels:
Attempted to trace evolution
Monogamous nuclear family developed to help the inheritance of private property
Designed to control women and protect property
Zaretsky:
The family “props up” capitalism
Males who work have power at home, helps them accept oppression in wider society
Criticisms:
Anthropologists - emergence of family did not coincide with the emergence of capitalism
Ignores family diversity - sees the nuclear family as being determined solely by economy
Social Policy
Generally like policies that removes class inequality
Free healthcare/education/welfare state - result of class struggle, working class “won” off capitalist class
Less happy:
Still inferior to private health/education
“Smokescreen” - only to make things seem better
Free healthcare - only to make them get better and go back to work
Benefits low - force people back to work and only exist to prevent revolution
State pensions low - believe because elderly can no longer serve capitalism
Free healthcare/education/welfare state - result of class struggle, working class “won” off capitalist class
Less happy:
Still inferior to private health/education
“Smokescreen” - only to make things seem better
Free healthcare - only to make them get better and go back to work
Benefits low - force people back to work and only exist to prevent revolution
State pensions low - believe because elderly can no longer serve capitalism