Which theorists argue that the family is an economic system in which women are exploited?

• A. Engels
• B. Marxists
• C. Parsons
• D. Delphy and Leonard

Answer: (D)

This item points to the view that the family functions as an economic system in which women's unpaid labour is exploited. Delphy and Leonard argue that within the family, women perform essential domestic tasks—housework, childcare, caring—that aren’t paid or valued in the market, yet reproduce the workforce and support capitalism. By keeping this labour invisible and uncompensated, the family becomes a site where patriarchal power and economic advantage for men are maintained. This feminist materialist perspective highlights how gender inequality is embedded in the economic system itself, not just in individual attitudes.

Engels focuses on the historical shift to monogamy and private property, linking family structures to property relations, while Marxists generally view the family as part of the broader class system, not specifically detailing exploitation of women within the private sphere. Parsons presents a functionalist view of separate gender roles supporting family stability, rather than highlighting exploitation of women as an economic underclass.