Marxists view the family as a support to capitalism and the bourgeoisie. They believe that the family is one of the many institutions that maintain capitalism. They say that the key factor that determines all social institutions would be the mode of production and how it exploits the proletariat. When the wealth increased, the development of private property occurred, which then led to the rise of the patriarchal monogamous nuclear family. Engels argues that monogamy became essential because men needed to ensure that they were the father of the child so that they could pass down their property to the legitimate heir.
Marxist perspective of families and households (24 marks) Marxists view society as being based on inequality between the working class and the capitalist ruling class. They believe that all of society’s institutions, including the family are set up to serve the needs of capitalism, by maintaining the status quo of class inequality thus keeping the ruling class in control, and the working class oppressed by the capitalist elite. Marxists argue that the traditional family performs a range of functions which benefit capitalism, and that working class family members are tricked into believing actually benefit them. The first function that Marxists argue that the family performs for capitalism is the inheritance of property. In a classless society, there would be no private property, as the means of production would be owned communally.
Hobbes idea that “people orbiting their ruler” leads me to the idea of socialism/communism (Sayre, 2012). His belief in the social contract theory led him to believe humans should be controlled by fear, and that they should willingly submit to governance. His thoughts on how people giving up their freedom, and submitting to their ruler seems a lot like slavery. He believed humans were servants to their ruler, and if they followed and obeyed the ruler they would have peace. John Locke would respond to Hobbes ideas on government by stating that humans were capable of governing themselves (Sayre, 2012).
Crime and deviance is defined by the ruling class to protect their own interests. Traditional marxists believe the reform act introduced throughout the 19th century worked in favour of the capitalists, laws were passed to strongly protect private land while very heavy penalties were imposed for minor theft, extreme poverty was not taken into account. They would also argue that the working class have unequal
For example, other needs such as reproduction and sex can also be met by sperm donors, and ‘escorts’. Marxist and Feminist sociologists have criticised Murdoch’s theory. They say that Functionalism ignores conflict and exploitation within society. Feminists see the family as being patriarchal and serving the needs of men and Marxists see the family as meeting the needs of capitalism and not the needs of the family members. According to Parsons there are two types of society; pre and post-industrial.
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
Asses the Marxist view that the main role of the family is to serve the interests of capitalism. The Marxist view is just one of many perspectives of the main role of the family. They believe that the family serves the interests of capitalism and the Bourgeoisie, and helps to maintain class equality. They also belie that the family model allows for the main provider (the man) to go out to work where the middle class take advantage of their labour. This idea is at odds with the functionalists view that the family benefits society and the family members.
Competition also creates companies to drive down wages, as they will wish to make their products at the lowest cost they can, this alienating the working class and causing them to become impoverished. Marx is often criticised as his two-class system is often seen as too simplistic. Weber divides the proletariat into skilled and unskilled class, and includes white-collar proletariat and small bourgeoisies. Marx believes that capitalism sows
Marxists argue that the functionalist view of the family views those family structures which support and benefit Capitalism and that the nuclear family is part of the superstructure with the sole purpose of perpetuating a capitalist system. They also believe that the family socialises its members to accept the false consciousness that capitalism is good for all and that the government helps the people through healthcare etc. Marxism also rejects the functionalist idea that society is based on consensus; they would say that current society is based upon a conflict between the small powerful ruling class and the working majority. Both Marxists and feminists disagree with the functionalist idea that each organ of society exists for the benefit of society itself and for its individual members, they believe that they exist for the benefit of the ruling class of either capitalists or men, respectively. Talcott Parsons' Fit Thesis states that the Modern Nuclear family evolved to meet the needs of an industrial society.
He looked to overthrow the capitalist system in favour of the structuralist approach (Perry, 2009). Marxists will always argue that the most important thing is the question of how a small group of people can exploit a vast majority of the population. They would study the power and wealth and look at the importance of social class division (Fulcher, J et al, 2007). Karl Marx believed there were only two basic classes’ the middle and the working class. Marx called the middle class the Bourgeoisie as they were either land owners or the bosses of factories and controlled society.