Asses the Usefulness of Marxist View of the Family (24 Marks)

480 Words2 Pages
In this essay I will discuss the Marxist view of the family. Marxists believe that the traditional nuclear family is the best type because they support the capitalist society. A key Marxist sociologist is Engels, he believes that family has the best structure of a capitalist society within its traditional gender roles. They favour this because it provides stability and socialises is the family into roles that support the capitalist ideology. Engels believes in the inheritance of private property to the correct off spring. This is because it maintains the capitalist society and the bourgeoisie maintain their hierarchy. However, Murdock, a functionalist, believes that reproduction is more important because it also reinforces a loving and nurturing relationship which would provide a stable family unit. It also ensures a stable sexual relationship for the parents which would also provide a happy and loving relationship which will then reflect on the children and have a better result for the whole of the society rather than just focusing on the capitalist society. Another contribution made by Marxists is the view put forward by Pieris. Pieris argues that the nuclear family is the ideal type of family because it creates the maximum number of consumer orientated units in society. If it was an extended family, fewer items would be needed as they could share their items meaning that the capitalist society would lose out, therefore not maintaining the capitalist society. Pieris suggests that even underprivileged families, they still require the same things as a wealthy family therefore still supporting the capitalist society. However, Murdock believes that the family are a good economic support because if both of the parents can work, they’re not only supporting the children but also each other. If both parents are working then they both have an income which is getting
Open Document