Assess the Marxist View That the Main Role of the Family Is to Serve the Interests of Capitalism. (24 Marks)

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Answer the following essay question, using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the Marxist view that the main role of the family is to serve the interests of capitalism. (24 marks) Item 2B states that ‘Marxists see all social institutions as serving the interests of capitalism.’ Capitalism is a perspective; based on the ideas of Karl Marx, capitalism sees society as a divide between two classes, the ruling class (the upper class), and the working class. The ruling class are called the Bourgeoisie; they own all the institutions and businesses, such as the Government, big food chains like McDonalds, Burger King, big firms. They basically own all the companies, which us, the working class, work for, and buy from. The working class are called the Proletariats; the people who work for the institutions and big chains, and buy from, or use the institutions. Marxists believe that the Bourgeoisie are exploiting the Proletariats in a big superstructure that keeps society together and functioning. Marxism is a conflict theory. They believe that we’re in a Capitalist society and we are in a massive superstructure which is controlled by the Bourgeoisie. They all also believe that the family gained its structure due to this Capitalist divide, and before Capitalism there was no family structure because everyone shared the labour and owned all means of production. Marxist’s feel that all of society’s institutions are helping to maintain ‘class inequality’. Also, they feel the functions of the family are done only for the benefit of this Capitalist system and that institutions within this system are transmitting the ‘ruling class ideology’ which keeps this system maintained. Marxists view the family’s functions as: * Reproducing Workers * Ideological Functions * A Unit of Consumption * Inheritance and Private Property * Providing Emotional
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