What is 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.

What do Marxist feminists say about the family?

Marxist feminists examine the family within the context of capitalist society. They argue that women’s exploitation within the family is due to the fact that women are encouraged to carry our unpaid work within the home. This helps capitalism to flourish.

What is family diversity?

Definition(s): In a more contemporary view, family diversity refers to a broad range of characteristics or dimensions on which families vary, along with a recognition that there are a multitude of different family types that function effectively.

What are criticisms of the family?

Different criticisms of families (isolation and unrealistic idealisation, loss of traditional functions, lack of contact with wider kinship networks, the status and role of women within families, marital breakdown, dysfunctional families).

How do feminist view the family?

Feminists argue that the so-called private realms of family, sex and reproduction must be part of the political realm and thus subject to principles of justice for three distinct reasons: Families are not “natural” orderings, but social institutions backed up by laws. For example, marriage is a social institution.

What is the new right view on family?

The New Right believe that it is important for children to have a stable home, with married mother and father, and that ideally the wife should be able to stay at home to look after the children.

How does family reinforce capitalism?

Family relations facilitate inheritance and therefore when a member of the middle class dies, their children inherit their wealth and consequently this wealth stays within the middle class. As a result, they stay in the position as the dominant ruling class, thus maintaining a capitalist society.

What is the traditional Marxist view on families?

The traditional Marxist view on families is that they perform a role not for everyone in society but for capitalism and the ruling class (the bourgeoisie).

What is the Marxist perspective in sociology?

Overview of the Marxist Perspective. 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’).

What are some of the criticisms of Marxism?

A further criticism of Marxism is the assumption that the nuclear family is the most dominant type in society and through this, they ignore other family types. Today, in Britain there are a diverse range of family types, with the nuclear family being just one of these.

What is the role of the family according to Karl Marx?

According to Althusser, the role of the family then is to provide a submissive workforce. Another important concept of the Marxist perspective is the inheritance of private property. Engels believes that the reason why the family developed to become monogamous is to ensure that family wealth is inherited.