What is the Marxist View of the Family? Families and Households. Sociology of the Family

What is the Marxist View of the Family? Families and Households. Sociology of the Family

This A-Level Sociology and GCSE Sociology video explores the Marxist perspective on the Family.

Opposed to the value consensus based society functionalists adhere to; Marxists see capitalist societies based in unequal conflict between two main classes:

- The capitalist class who controls production
- The working class whose work is exploited for profit by the capitalist class

Marxists’ central belief is that societal institutions such as education, media, religion, the state, and the family maintain class inequality through capitalism. In direct contrast to functionalists, Marxists see the family functions performed in support of the capitalist system. Marxists views the family as fulfilling some main functions to support capitalism:

Inheritance of property
Ideological functions
As a unit of consumption

Note Taking Questions

What was ‘inheritance of property’?  Who came up with that theory?

Marxists believe the modern family supports the ideology that justifies inequality. How?

In what way did Marx see the family as a ‘unit of consumption’?

Who criticised Zaretsky view that the role of the family was a refuge from capitalism?  Why?

How do functionalist disagree with Marxists?

Why is the ‘angel in the house’ view misleading according to Sommerville?

What is the feminist critique of Marxist view of the family?