Which sociologist argued that the family is a private sphere that helps capitalism by reproducing workers?

• A. Functionalists
• B. Marxists
• C. Parsons
• D. Zaretsky

Answer: (D)

This question tests the Marxist view of the family as a private sphere that helps capitalism by reproducing workers. Edwin Zaretsky argued that the family, though intimate and private, functions to reproduce the next generation of workers and to pass on capitalist norms and values. By socializing children into obedience, acceptances of social hierarchies, and readiness for wage-learning and exploitation, the family helps sustain the capitalist system. It also can act as a “haven” that cushions workers from the pressures of work, reinforcing loyalty to the system rather than challenging it. This specific link between the private family sphere and the reproduction of the labor force is why Zaretsky is the best fit.