Essay
Assess the view that the nuclear family aids capitalism [35 marks]
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A grade essay (30/35) evaluating the view that the nuclear family aids capitalism, with reference to theories such as functionalism and marxism.
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Assess the view that the nuclear family aids capitalism [35]Marxism is a con ict theory which examines the role of the bourgeoisie (property owning upper class) and
the proletariat (lower class) in a capitalist society. A capitalis c society is one characterised by the private
ownership of the means of produc on, in which marxists conclude the proletariat are exploited (payed less
than their labour is worth). There are many things that make up this infrastructure known as the
superstructure, one of which being the nuclear family. The nuclear family typically consists of a father,
mother and their children. The marxist view of the role of the nuclear family will be discussed, inclusive
how it has developed to exploit the proletariat. It could be argued that the primary socialisa on provided by
the nuclear family is one of the biggest factors in this. However theories such as func onalism may suggest
that the nuclear family is universal and exists in non-capitalist socie es, and therefore doesn’t exist
primarily for this func on.
Firstly, marxist theories suggest that nuclear family emerged to aid the private ownership of business.
Marxist Engels suggested that we began as a “promiscuous horde”; having rela onships with who we liked,
when we liked. He suggested that the nuclear family developed with the emergence of private property.
This is because it allowed men to pass on ownership of private property to legi mate heirs. This view on the
nuclear family is useful as it highlights the importance of the nuclear family in maintaining the private
ownership of business and therefore capitalism and the divide between the bourgeoisie and proletariat.
Func onalists, however, may argue that the emergence of the nuclear family was in response to a post-
industrial society. Func onalists suggest that the industrial revolu on led to a decrease in extended families
in agriculture, and an increase in nuclear families as this type best suited the needs of an industrial society.
This is supported by Parson’s func onal t theory, which suggests that family types evolve to suit the needs
of the society in its me. He argues that the nuclear family was best suited to this society due to its
geographical mobility. This theory proposed by parsons contradicts the marxist beliefs regarding the
circumstances from which the nuclear family emerged from, therefore discredi ng the idea that the nuclear
family developed primarily to support capitalism.
Despite this, a strength on marxist views is that they highlight the inequali es and darker sides to the family
that arguably exist as a result and in support of capitalism. The idea that the nuclear family is a
‘psychological outlet” (suggested by marxist Zaretsky) refers to the fact that proletariat men, a er a day of
exploita on, will come home and release his irrita ons on his family rather than on his superiors. Feminist
Ansley speci cally discussed the impact of this on women, claiming that they “soak up the frustra ons
proletariat men”. These proposed theories are useful in explaining how the nuclear family aid capitalism as
they consider how the typical roles of the man and woman within the nuclear family can support it,
speci cally the man going out to work and the woman providing emo onal labour.
Contras ngly, new right thinkers would argue that these roles within the nuclear family work together to
create consensus, not to support capitalism and the con ict it creates. David Cameron, following the 2011
riots, argued the nuclear family is needed so that both parents (importantly the father) could teach values
such as discipline to children in order to avoid con ict within society. New right thinkers believe that
therefore family types such as single-parent provide and in adequate socialisa on and lead to children in
crime. This is supported by the District of Columbia survey, which analysed 50 countries or states and found
that a 10% increase in children living in single-parent families accompanied a 17% increase in juvenile crime.
This new right view opposes the Marxist view the nuclear family exists mainly in support of capitalism; they
would argue it exist to stabilise society and avoid con ict.
For the strength of Marxism is that it o ers an explana on as to how the ruling class ideology socialise,
which intern distracts the proletariat from the fact that they are being exploited. This occurs during primary
socialisa on in the nuclear family, when parents teach what marks is believed to be the “false idea of
meritocracy”. Meritocracy is the concept that success and a higher status is achieved only through one's
e ort. Marxist refer to this as a “false consciousness” that prevents the proletariat from rebelling; the only
way for them to move of the class system is to work for the bourgeoisie. This view on the nuclear family is
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