Marxists argue that some family functions have been replaced by which institutions?

• A. Religious institutions and charities
• B. Companies, welfare systems, pensions and insurance
• C. Schools and libraries
• D. Local government agencies

Answer: (B)

In Marxist thinking, the family no longer bears all the responsibilities of economic security and the socialization of children on its own. Instead, these functions are taken over by external institutions that support the capitalist system. Companies handle employment, training, and the integration of workers into the economy, while welfare systems, along with pensions and insurance, provide financial security and care beyond what a family can supply. This setup helps reproduce the workforce and maintain social order by relying on the state and capitalist institutions rather than the family alone. Other options touch on related social institutions, but they do not encapsulate the systemic shift Marxists point to, where the economy and welfare state assume these family functions.