Weakness. how to respect and conform to authority; hierarchy is inevitable and there will always be someone 'in charge'. VAT reg no 816865400. This means that the capitalist class can later exploit these children because, when these children become adults, they are more likely to view the power and authority of the capitalist class as natural. It does also consider that if a person is ill they cannot attend to other aspects of life e. education, family. The Strengths and Weaknesses of Marxism. Fig. Upload unlimited documents and save them online. Marxist studies of medical care emphasize political power and economic dominance in capitalist society. It believes that capitalist society is based on inequalities between the ' bourgeoisie' (ruling capitalist class) and ' proletariat' (working class). Conflict theories assume that all societies have structural power divisions and . The perspective is overly deterministic and views individuals as too passive. 1. Create beautiful notes faster than ever before. Marxist View on the Family. This benefits society as a whole, not just a particular group. The role and function of the family is to uphold the capitalist superstructure. These alternative conceptions of the family are outside of Marxist analysis of the nuclear family (Thompson, 2014). As a result, women would not be subject to male control for the purposes of reproduction. This means that the family serves not only an ideological function, but also an economic function. As a result, the Marxist perspective does not give a full understanding of the role of the family. This means that every person would be able to get access to the most important things he needs regardless of whatever he does, wherever he lives or how much he makes to provide a better living for those depending on him. Sharing the same table: consumption and the family. Because people need to feel secure and absolve themselves of their own guilt, Freud believed that they choose to believe in God, who represents a powerful father-figure. 2. Learn how your comment data is processed. Strengths. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. For functionalists, society is seen as a system of social institutions such as the economy, religion and the family all of which perform socialisation . For Marx (B. Brewster, Trans.). Strength. Marxists believe that the family is a tool Ignores family diversity in capitalist society, and that many women now work full time as wellandMarxism ignore the benefits of nuclear family e.g. Unequal gender relations existed before the emergence of capitalism, contrary to Engels' belief. The term 'economic capital' refers to money and resources, often denoting disposable income or material possessions. Marxism . For functionalists, society is seen as a system of social institutions such as the economy, religion and the family all of which . , especially fathers, to prepare them to submit to authorities e.g. Thus, there is no material benefit for the family itself, only for the capitalist structure. Under the Marxist philosophy, communities will be working together to achieve success, where all people would come together to provide for each other, with the help of the government distributing resources as required. Individuals are the product of social structures and socialisation. 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). Eventually, the bourgeois started to look for ways of creating intergenerational wealth, rather than having it distributed among the masses of society. They may also agree with Marxists about the amount of unpaid labour women contribute to make capitalism work. 1. ; In Zaretsky's view, the family also serves as a vital unit of consumption. Stop procrastinating with our smart planner features. One way in which this happens is that there is a hierarchy in most families which teaches children to accept there will always be someone in authority who they must obey, which then mirrors the hierarchy of boss-worker in paid employment in later life. It includes a broad range of issues that women face within the criminal justice system and society. Percussion instruments those that are tapped shaken or struck, include drums bells and xylophones. The main weakness of the interpretivist approach when researching the family is the tendency to ignore wider social structure. Marxism points out the unpleasant aspects of family life and the inequalities of power within the family. (a) Which stanzas or sections did you read more slowly? If capitalism is overthrown, women could be freed not just from the capitalist society but also the patriarchy. I cant find the author. Zaretsky believes that the nuclear family has several important functions that benefit the capitalist structure: imparting capitalist ideology, and acting as a unit of consumption. Marx believed that there should be no ownership of private property because this reproduces social class inequalities and benefits the bourgeoisie. Talcott Parsons is a functionalist and he claims that the family has positive functions, such as providing a 'safe haven' and place of comfort for its members. Charlotte Nickerson is a member of the Class of 2024 at Harvard University. Which two types of functions does the family perform according to Zaretsky? For example, the latest phone will become obsolete, or even nonfunctional, a few years after it is purchased and clothing tends to go frequently in and out of fashion. Marxist and Marxist Feminist Criticisms of Functionalist Theories of the Family. This provided a clear function for capitalism because it meant that workers would tolerate the powerlessness and frustration of being exploited at work because they had this private domain where they were king of the castle and could take out their stress and frustrations. It is the best way of guaranteeing that you are passing on your property to your son, because in a monogamous relationship you have a clear idea of who your own children are. https://simplysociology.com/functions-of-the-family-marxism.html, Althusser, L. (1969). Boston House, It wrongly holds that what is real is matter. These can include things that make life in a capitalist system bearable, such as things that fulfill a need for distraction. Marx gives society the knowledge and may pass on unknown information to the proletariat about their unfair treatment within society in comparison to the bourgeoisie. But when that worker has to also take dependents into account (e.g. While cushioning the effects of capitalism, the family perpetuates the system and cannot compensate for the alienation between the rich and poor created by capitalist society. Why? Contemporary sociological theory. A family is a stable unit and institution that keeps society. 1 - The image above shows a traditional nuclear family. marxism helps explain conflict and change; Disadvantages. Although Marxisms system of government is considered as communism, it places an emphasis on human rights, with its foundation encompassing equal gender roles, health care and access to education. In a communist society, there would be no need for a private family unit as there would be no private property. This paper critically examines marxist and feminist literature on child protection, and identifies both their strengths and weaknesses. This is called 'pester power'. of capitalism and its main function is to Marxists see the role of the family quite differently to that of functionalists. The role of socialization in determining behaviour is recognized. In line with this, Marxists state that the function of the family is to maintain the capitalist superstructure of society. Zaretsky claims that this economic function is a bourgeois ideology perpetuated to ensure families spend money and create profits for the bourgeoisie. Next, we will look at several Marxist perspectives, including those of Engels, Zaretsky, Bourdieu and Althusser. Social capital refers to the access to important or influential contacts or networks. Overall strengths. For example what is good in Marx is its wide scope; what is weak is that this wide scope may lead the researcher away from the details of the case; what is good is the focus on conflict and change but this very strength is a weakness if it . 1. It states that even if people belong to families, they have individual interpretation of things. We will do this by considering criticisms generally, and criticisms from other structural theories. Strong People Skills. Tilly, L. A. It is a set of structural conflict approaches which views society as a conflict between men and women. Marxism creates a system of true equality, whereby everyone shares abundantly in society's wealth. Fig. For example, children learn obedience and respect for those in authority within the family. The weaknesses of functionalist theory is that it tends to lead to exaggerated accounts of positive consequences of sports and sports participation however it mistakenly assumes that there are no conflicts of interests between the different citizen groups in society such as women, people with disabilities, racial We'll start by looking at German philosopher Friedrich Engels' views on the family. Identify your study strength and weaknesses. Which type of function of the family did Althusser emphasise? It views individuals as too passive; not everyone conforms to or accepts the values of capitalism. Marxists see each institution of society as performing the role of upholding the capitalist superstructure, which ultimately helps to sustain a capitalist society. Bourdieu argues that a lack of economic, cultural and social capital means working-class children suffer from a ____ ____. Create flashcards in notes completely automatically. 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. 2 Pages. In order to keep this property, they had to find a way to prevent it from being shared with everyone else. 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). WEAKNESSES. After studying this section, you should be able to understand: key concepts such as nuclear families, extended families and households. By socializing children into ruling-class values, the family ensures that children will become uncritical and conformist adults and passive workers who accept exploitation with little complaint. Women are doubly oppressed, both by capitalism and patriarchy. It explains why there is such an uneven distribution of power and wealth between social classes. This means that there would be no organized religion, which would affect prominent beliefs followed around the world, including Christianity and Judaism. Similar to the Marxist belief that institutions such as education, religion, and the media teach people how to behave, the nuclear family is an, structure that teaches its members to accept imbalances of power in. Stern, B. J. Feminists argue that the Marxist focus on class ignores the inequalities between men and women, which is the real source of female oppression.. (9), their exegesis of Sartre's Marxism, shows. The bourgeoisie owned all of the wealth and resources and passed it down to the next generation of rich capitalists whilst the proletariat, the working masses, had nothing. The education system perceives middle-class values, experiences, and knowledge as superior and as a result, working-class children are more likely to drop out of school and miss out on opportunities. In the Marxist view the family is a part of the superstructure of capitalist society which operates not in the interests of society and all of its members equally but in the interests of the capitalist system and of the capitalist class within that system. working class children do perform worse than middle and upper class children. So if marriage is harmful for women, what about divorce? People are influenced to compete with each other through consumption. Free and expert-verified textbook solutions. (1948). Zaretsky believes the family performs both an ideological function and an economic function that benefits the bourgeoisie. The strength of the new right is that it views the nuclear family into having positive aspects. Feminists may appreciate the fact that Marxists have recognised how women within the nuclear family are a) treated as the property of men and b) used as means of producing babies so that sons can inherit property. They may be forced to leave school early due to poverty and/or the need for extra income. Is always good and happy. Their reactions and actions towards them are according to . According to Engels, the monogamous nuclear family only emerged with Capitalism. The major weakness of Marxism is that it does not seem to work in the real world. The word Fascist is taken from fascio, an Italian word which mean a tied bundle of sticks, fascio is used in . As it is believed that this philosophy never exploits workers by management, followers believe that unions are definitely a great idea. It is unlikely that overthrowing capitalism will remove patriarchy altogether. Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more! His thinking was initially considered neo-Marxist, following . In modern times, the vast power of multi-nationals and monopolies seems to exercise a total stranglehold on the world, holding access to economies of scale, staggering sums of money, ability to manipulate commodity prices and even the influence of government policies. To go directly to the heart of the work of Marx, one must focus on his concrete program for humanity. However, fundamentally, Zaretsky did not believe that the family is able to provide for the psychological and social needs of the individual. But by examining its key strengths and weaknesses, we will be able to decide whether it is best for society or not. Marxist feminism is a branch of feminist theory which argues that the main cause of women's oppression is capitalism. Companies build demand for their products through targeted advertising to children, who request expensive products from their parents. Due to these inequalities, Marxism sees society as being in constant conflict between these social classes. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist view on society. Capitalists/business owners want to keep workers wages down so they can make a profit, but to do so they must also be able to sell the workers goods i.e. Marxism has equal gender roles, education access, and health care as part of its foundation. It reduces the tendency of debt. A nuclear family refers to a traditional family structure consisting of a two-parent family with one or more children. An Integrated Multi-Level Approach. This does not consider the possibility that proletariat parents and children may actively resist this process (Thompson, 2014). This is because it does not take into account the essential greediness and selfishness of the human being. This creates a false class consciousness. Zaretsky argues that through the family, proletariat children are socialised to accept and embody norms and values that uphold capitalism. they do not wait for marriage before sex, Feminists argue Marxists emphasise to much on social class and capitalism rather than gender inequalities, Many families and individuals are aware of their exploitation but choose to ignore it, Marxists tend to assume the nuclear family is dominant in a capitalist society, Strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist, 10 marker Applying material from Item A, anal, Strengths and Weaknesses of The New Right vie, Psychology - Social Key Question (Abu Ghraib, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, John Lund, Paul S. Vickery, P. Scott Corbett, Todd Pfannestiel, Volker Janssen, Byron Almen, Dorothy Payne, Stefan Kostka, Eric Hinderaker, James A. Henretta, Rebecca Edwards, Robert O. Self. Although this system had some disagreements with socialism and communism, but still they had some views in common. Through a set of norms and roles accompanied by the existence of a shared culture which is shaped due to the members of a society, social order is therefore achieved. The strengths of structural functionalism are that it can accurately model many aspects of society, and that it relates society to other topics of. Indeed, Marxists have done little research to investigate whether members of families actually do have this relationship with capitalism. Simply put, a Marxist perspective is one that originates from the theory of Marxism. Open Document. The nuclear family serves the interests of the capitalist system. Stressing the role of class struggle or conflict within society between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, it is effective in explaining change in society. A steady job can be a positive unless the . Families: Marxism. The Marxist theory of crime has the benefit of a holistic view - it accounts for a range of deviant acts committed by people from different social backgrounds, with different motivations. In Marxism, the bourgeoisie gain their wealth through exploiting the labor of the proletariat. The division of labor was, for Marx, the very essence of all that is wrong with the world. Theory of Dialectical Materism Lacks Originality: The theory of Dialectical Materialism of Marx stands borrowed from Hegel. Examine Marxist Views on the role of the family (30 marks) A key feature of the Marxist perspective is the belief that society is centred around an unfair class division which is maintained through Capitalism. Within the family, this is usually the father; outside the family, it is teachers and employers. Next, we'll consider French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's views on the family. Thus, the nuclear family is only beneficial to capitalism and the ruling class. This means that Engels believed that anyone could have sexual relations with anyone else in the tribal group, and multiple partners (Stern, 1948). Here is also commentary on his ideas and cites the mentioned texts. It emphasizes the marked differences of varying social classes and the power struggles between capitalist and working class individuals. Marxist approaches challenge the orthodox thinking of the time. By CharlotteNickerson, published April 03, 2022 | Fact Checked by Saul Mcleod, PhD. Lastly, we'll look at French philosopher and sociologist Louis Althusser's views on the family. Feminists would point out that sex inequalities exist within all families, irrespective of social class background. It limits opportunities for entrepreneurs. How does the Marxist view of the family differ to that of functionalists? It protects the rights of unions. What are the weaknesses of Marxism? In Marxism, there will be the idea that private properties and businesses should be abolished, which makes it impossible for anyone to take business advantage of someone else, giving him no reward for working. Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational . This reinforces social class inequalities. Such demands are created through targeted advertising from companies. Marxists Views on the Family There are three Marxists views of the family, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Eli Zaretsky; they all see all institutions such as education, the media and the family as maintaining class inequality and capitalism. Texas: Springer. The Marxist perspective on the family is normally taught after the Functionalist perspective on the Family, and is normally the second of five perspectives on the family within the families and households module in A-level sociology. What was the basic principle of Marxist theory? The difference is that Marxists disagree with the way society is currently constituted. Strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist approach to society Pages: 2 (371 words) Functionalist theory of crime and . Marxist ideas illustrate the power of the economy in shaping relationships and ideas as well as offering a solution or alternative to society. Marxists have been criticized for overemphasizing how the family is shaped by the needs of capitalism. It offers benefits to the society. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of Marx's analysis of Capitalism Marxism is a critique of Capitalism that had its greatest strength in its argument against human isolation and tyranny. Tel: +44 0844 800 0085. Engels argued that family had a clear economic function for capitalism, by ensuring that wealth remained in the hands of the bourgeoisie. For Engels, then, family is all about blood lines and proof of parentage. Third, I think Marx illustrates the complementary nature of the strengths and weaknesses within a theory. This is a complete mischaracterization of Marxism. Here Are the Pros of Marxism. The classic idea of a nuclear family is made up of a monogamous, heterosexual couple. Marxists view the family in a very disparaging light and regard the family as a tool of capitalism and the bourgeoisie. It suggests that family life. Marxists explain the ideological role of families in society and suggest reasons people feel strongly about family structures, Marxism offers an explanation of why families first developed in society, Marxism points out the unpleasant aspects of family life and the inequalities of power within the family, Feminist perspectives have based their analysis on Marxist views, Engels doesn't cater for family diversity, Women are now generally in control of their sexuality e.g. and views individuals as too passive. Family relations, based on clear legal contracts, facilitate inheritance and therefore when rich people die it is their children who keep hold of their wealth. Family strengths can also be their weaknesses. Zaretsky was interested in psychology, and specifically the idea that the family can perform a psychological function. Strengths And Weaknesses Of Fascism. Due to no fault of their own, working-class children miss out on cultural capital as their parents cannot offer them this advantage in the same way as their middle-class counterparts. 2. This could include toys, tablets, and subscriptions to entertainment. Strengths And Limitations Of Karl Marx's Conflict Theory. We will look at the key terms presented by each Marxist. He has been published in psychology journals including Clinical Psychology, Social and Personal Relationships, and Social Psychology. Zaretskys theory is clearly outdated: it assumes the worker is male and that there is only one worker in the family. There are significant amounts of advertising and TV programmes influencing parents in this way. Zaretsky, N. (2010). Not only do capitalists and business owners want to keep workers' wages low in order to make a profit, but they also must be able to sell the worker's goods. In Book 1, lines 504-524, what does Phoebus say to Daphne to try fto persuade her to stop running away from him? Living standards have improved vastly since Marx's day, and the welfare state and compulsory state education have . As is often the case, there are similarities between the functionalist and Marxist case: they both think that families perform important functions for the society as it is currently constituted. It creates equality: Many injustices and inequalities happen because of the divide in social classes within a society. As a result, teachers may not value or assess them as highly as middle-class children. Marxism and Functionalism are both macro or structural theories. 2 - The nuclear family structure allows for the inheritance of private property, which reproduces social class inequalities. In Engels view, the monogamous nuclear family emerged with capitalism. both parents support the children. Its fundamental argument is that capitalist society is based on inequalities between the 'bourgeoisie' (ruling capitalist class) and 'proletariat' (working class). Marx's ideas were so influential that a third of the planet was ruled under his ideas in . Bourdieu argued that this lack of economic capital prevents working-class children from accessing the same quality of education as middle-class children. Marxism is a sociological conflict theory that originates from the work of Karl Marx.
