2. The Family Marxist and Feminist perspectives Lesson 2

3. Last week We looked at the key features of the family Changes in the structure of the family Functionalist perspective

4. This week We will look at: Marxist and Feminist theory on the family Strengths and weaknesses

5. Recap Key features of the family – The family is seen by many sociologists as the cornerstone of society. – Some form of family can be found in all societies. – Socio-biology saw the family as an inevitable outcome of biological evolutionary process (Murdock, 1949).

6. Task 1 Name 3 changes in family structure.

7. Task 2 Name 2 changes in the sociological study of the family.

8. Task 3 Name the key types of families recognised by sociologists

9. Task 4 - Functionalist theory What do we call this idea? The__________analogy

10. Task 5 Talcott Parsons (1959) Industrialisation means a shift from extended to “isolated nuclear family”. The family serves two “basic and irreducible” functions 1)__________________of children 2)__________________of adult personalities

11. Summary Functionalists see the family as a central institution in society. It performs essential social functions such as raising children. The family is seen as an important source of security and satisfaction for its members.

12. Task 6 – last one! Can you remember strengths and weakness of this theory? Functionalist theory on the Family

13. Marxist theory Marxists argue that the economy influences the family and changes family functions, structure and roles Marxists also see the negative influence of the family maintaining inequality of social class

14. Engels’ (1884) “The Origin of the Family” As the mode of production changed, so did the family The family did not really exist during early stages of human evolution when the means of production were communally owned Primitive communist society was promiscuous, thus society was in effect the family

15. Monogamous nuclear family The emergence of private property/private ownership of MOP & advent of the State ushered in monogamous nuclear family The state instituted laws to the protect system of private property & enforce rules of monogamous marriage The nuclear family developed to solve problems of inheritance of private property.

16. Control over women Property was owned by males to pass on to heirs. There was need to ensure the legitimacy of heirs. This resulted in greater control of women so questions of paternity of offspring would cease. The monogamous family provided most efficient device for this purpose.

17. In Engels words: It is based on the supremacy of the man, the express purpose being to produce children of undisputed paternity: such paternity is demanded because these children are later to come into their father’s property as his natural heirs. (Engels, 1972, first published 1884)

18. Engels’ Conclusion The bourgeios nuclear family emerged with capitalism It is patriarchical – it is designed to guarantee and perpetuate male power through the inheritance of property It therefore serves the interests of capitalism

19. Eli Zaretsky (1976) Zaretsky claimed the family “props up” capitalism The capitalist system is based on the domestic labour of housewives who reproduce future generations of workers The family is a vital unit of consumption – it consumes the products of capitalism and enables the bourgeoisie to make profits.

20. Oppression of women The nuclear family is a product of capitalism because it produces children who become the work force and are obedient to their capitalist employers. Women are seen as victims of oppression, offering cheap childcare and only being encouraged to work when the economy demands it.

21. Women as a reserve army of labour Women are moved in and out of the labour force as the need demands e.g. Women in World War II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiYbNViJFl0 But after the war… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVtgEgw15m Q

22. Productive and reproductive labour Productive labour Produces things - and therefore surplus value Is given a monetary value Qualifies for sick pay and holiday leave Reproductive Labour Produces people not things – so no surplus value Is given no monetary value Does not qualify for sick pay and holiday leave

23. But here’s the rub! Productive labour cannot take place without reproductive labour being done. Someone has to look after children, tend to sick children and relatives, buy food and supplies, put them in cupboards, wash and put away clothes etc.

24. Task – in pairs What kinds of reproductive labour have been done to enable you to leave the house this morning? Did you do this labour yourself or was some of shared/done exclusively by other family members? Be honest!

25. Marxists say the family serves capitalism in 4 ways 1.The family socialises children – thereby reproducing both labour power and an acceptance of capitalism (false consciousness). 2.Women’s domestic work is unpaid which benefits capitalism. 3.The family acts as a safety valve for the stresses and frustrations of working class men. 4.The family as a unit of consumption buys the goods and services provided by capitalism.

26. Strengths 1.Marxists have highlighted the economic functions of the family within modern capitalism – how the family is exploited by the capitalist system. 2.They have also highlighted how women are exploited as free domestic labour and a source of cheap part-time and or temporary labour.

27. Weaknesses 1)Marxists fail to recognise the diverse nature of family structures e.g. the growth of single-parent families – tripled from 2% of UK households in 1961 to 7% in 2003.

28. Weaknesses 2) Marxists place too much emphasis on the economic system as a determinant of the family and neglecting other factors e.g. religion and ethnicity

29. Weaknesses 3) Marxists fail to accept any positive or beneficial elements of the family e.g. experiments in alternatives to the nuclear family have proved disastrous i.e. Kibbutz system in Israel was criticised for stifling creativity amongst children.

30. Summary Both theories agree that the family serves the economy Functionalist theory sees the family as a positive unit Marxist theory sees the family as an ideological tool for reproducing inequality

31. Marxist theory on the family Task Put this information on a mind map so you remember it:

32. To the books! We will now look at the feminist perspective on the family. Homework for next week – Describe the key features and changes in the family – Describe and evaluate the functionalist and Marxist theory of the family = 16 marks.

33. Clip...if there’s time Nice reminder on the different sociological perspectives on the family http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md_OZ 7JSmFM