Critically Evaluate the Marxist Perspsctive of the Family

Critically evaluate the Marxist perspective of the family According to Marx’s perspective, family is seen as an obstruction to achieve the communist goals, as it is crucial to passing the established order such as cultural ideals on to the next generation. However, Marx was focused on social class rather than the role of family, it was his friend Engels trace the evolution of the family in â€Å"The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State† (1884 , Zurich) In this context, this essay will evaluate the function of family based upon Marxist perspective. For this intention, Engel’s and other Marxist views of family will be demonstrated firstly, along with a common criticism. Secondly, it will explain the functions of family in†¦show more content†¦In functionalist view, Murdock argues that the family plays four fundamental functions in terms of sexuality, reproduction, economy and education. These functions are inseparable, that is, it serves both nuclear family members at the same time and in the same way. Take sexual function for instance, husband and wife both have the right to access to each other and there are rules forbidding adultery. Murdock claims his analysis provides the family’s multilateral utility and thus of its inevitability. However, Murdock does not consider whether its functions could be performed by other social institutions and without examining alternatives to the family. In addition, in fact i t is hard family to achieve that harmonious and integrated. Furthermore, In Parson’s view, the family has two core functions which refer to the primary socialization and personality stabilization. On contrary, feminists are highly critical of the family, and thus lead to a stress on the harmful effects of family life upon women. They have challenged the view of the inevitability of male dominance in families. And they also claimed that women have contributed to the social economy by their domestic work within the family which was opposite to Marxist. Furthermore, they criticized the cooperation image of family life like sharing interests and love and indicated that actually the men