Explain the Marxist view that the nuclear family supports capitalism.
OCR
A Level
2020
👑Complete Model Essay
Free Essay Plan
The Marxist Perspective on the Nuclear Family and Capitalism
This essay will explore the Marxist view that the nuclear family serves as a crucial support system for capitalism. It will analyze how the family structure, as understood by Marxist theorists, contributes to the perpetuation of capitalist systems through various mechanisms. This approach aligns with the broader Marxist understanding of society as characterized by inherent conflict and inequality, positioning the family within a framework of structuralist and conflict theory.
1. The Family as an Ideological Conditioning Device
Marxist scholars like David Cooper argue that the family functions as an ideological conditioning device, instilling values and beliefs that align with capitalist interests.
Key Points: *Socialization: The family is responsible for socializing children into accepting the existing social order, including capitalist values like competition, individualism, and consumerism. *
Obedience and Conformity: Family structures often emphasize obedience to authority figures and conformity to societal norms, preparing individuals for their roles within a capitalist workforce. *
Acceptance of Inequality: Family dynamics can reinforce the idea of hierarchical structures and the acceptance of social inequalities, including class divisions.
2. The Family and Property Inheritance
Friedrich Engels, a prominent Marxist theorist, argued that the inheritance of private property played a central role in the development of the nuclear family.
Key Points: *Legitimate Inheritance: The family provides a framework for the legitimate transfer of property and wealth, ensuring the perpetuation of capitalist power structures. *
Concentration of Wealth: Inheritance patterns contribute to the concentration of wealth within certain families, reinforcing class divisions. *
Control over Resources: The family unit serves as a mechanism for controlling and transmitting resources, enabling the continuation of capitalist accumulation.
3. The Family as an Illusion of Safety and Security
Eli Zaretsky argues that the family provides an illusion of a haven in a heartless world, masking the inherent exploitative nature of capitalism.
Key Points: *Emotional Support: The family offers emotional support, which can distract individuals from the harsh realities of capitalist exploitation. *
Escape from Alienation: The family can create a sense of belonging and community, offering a temporary escape from the alienation experienced in the capitalist workplace. *
Reproduction of Labour: The family is responsible for raising future generations of workers, essential for the continued functioning of the capitalist system.
4. The Role of Women in Capitalist Reproduction
Marxist-feminist scholars have explored the specific ways in which women's roles within the family contribute to the perpetuation of capitalism.
Key Points: *Reserve Army of Labour: Women are often relegated to the "reserve army of labour," readily available to fill in for men when needed but easily dismissed during economic downturns. (Beechey) *
Housewife Role: The traditional housewife role, while unpaid, provides essential services that support the capitalist workforce. (Benston) *
Absorption of Domestic Labour: Women shoulder the burden of domestic labour, freeing up men to concentrate on paid work. (Ansley) *
Ideological State Apparatus (ISA): The family functions as an ISA, teaching women to accept their subordinate roles and reinforce patriarchal values. (Althusser, through Feeley)
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, Marxist theory offers a critical lens through which to analyze the role of the nuclear family in supporting capitalist systems. Through ideological conditioning, property inheritance, the illusion of safety, and the exploitation of women's labour, the family plays a significant role in perpetuating capitalist power structures. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for challenging the inequalities inherent in capitalist societies and envisioning alternative social structures that promote equality and justice.
The Marxist View of the Nuclear Family: A Bastion of Capitalism
The nuclear family, often idealised as a haven of love and stability, comes under sharp critique from Marxist sociologists. They argue that this family structure, rather than being a natural and inevitable social unit, plays a pivotal role in propping up the capitalist system. This essay will explore the key arguments that position the nuclear family as a vital cog in the machinery of capitalism.
Inheritance and the Preservation of Wealth
Engels, a key figure in Marxist thought, highlighted the historical link between the nuclear family and the transmission of private property. He argued that the monogamous nuclear family developed alongside capitalism as a mechanism to ensure the orderly inheritance of wealth and property across generations. This system, he argued, solidified class inequality, as wealth stayed concentrated within families, perpetuating the capitalist class structure.
The Family as an Ideological Conditioning Device
Marxists also emphasise the ideological function of the nuclear family. David Cooper, for example, argued that the family serves as an "ideological conditioning device," socialising individuals, particularly children, into accepting capitalist norms and values. The hierarchies within the family, with the father often holding economic and decision-making power, mirror and reinforce the power dynamics of the capitalist workplace.
The Illusion of a Haven
Zaretsky's work delves into the psychological function of the family within a capitalist society. He argues that the family provides the illusion of a "haven in a heartless world," offering emotional solace and a sense of belonging that masks the alienating and exploitative nature of capitalist work. This illusion, however, serves to maintain the capitalist system, as workers who feel emotionally supported are less likely to challenge the status quo.
Marxist-Feminist Critiques and the Exploitation of Women
Marxist-feminist perspectives further illuminate how the nuclear family, while seemingly private and separate from the capitalist economy, is deeply intertwined with it through the exploitation of women's labour. Beechey argues that women constitute a "reserve army of labour," available to enter the workforce when needed and retreat back into the domestic sphere during times of economic stability. This flexibility benefits capitalism, ensuring a readily available workforce without having to maintain full employment.
Benston adds that the unpaid domestic labour performed by women within the home is essential for the functioning of capitalism. By providing a comfortable and nurturing environment for male workers, women enable them to return to work each day, refreshed and ready to contribute to capitalist production. Ansley elaborates on this idea, suggesting that women act as "takers of shit," absorbing the frustrations and anxieties of their husbands who are exploited under capitalism. This emotional labour helps to maintain social order and prevent challenges to the system.
Feeley, drawing on Althusser's concept of Ideological State Apparatuses (ISAs), argues that the family functions as an ISA, reproducing capitalist ideology and maintaining the existing power structure. Through the socialisation of children and the reinforcement of gender roles, the family instills obedience, conformity, and a belief in the inevitability of the capitalist system.
Conclusion
The Marxist view of the nuclear family presents a compelling argument against viewing it as a natural or inevitable social arrangement. Instead, it exposes the intricate ways in which this family structure serves the interests of capitalism, perpetuating economic inequality, reinforcing dominant ideologies, and exploiting the unpaid labour of women. By understanding these connections, we can begin to envision alternative family forms and social arrangements that prioritize human needs and well-being over the demands of capitalist accumulation.
Free Mark Scheme Extracts
Marxist View
The Marxist view may be located as a structuralist theory and/or conflict theory.
Relevant Studies
• David Cooper – family as an ideological conditioning device • Engels - transference of property through inheritance • Zaretsky - illusion of a haven in a heartless world • Marxist-feminist views of the role of women supporting capitalism (Beechey - reserve army of labour; Benston – housewife role; Ansley - women soak up domestic labour, Feeley family as an ISA)