Final answer:
Friedrich Engels claimed that capitalism increased patriarchy, reflecting a similar dynamic to the owner-worker relationship where women are economically dependent on men.
Step-by-step explanation:
Friedrich Engels, the German sociologist and companion of Karl Marx, delved into the dynamics of family structure and gender roles under capitalism. Engels theorized that the existing capitalist system had a profound impact on the structure of family, particularly through its perpetuation of patriarchy. He argued that within the household, a similar dynamic to the owner-worker relationship in capitalism was present, with women taking the position analogous to the proletariat, due to their economic dependence on men for wages. This situation was exacerbated for women who were entirely dependent on their spouses for financial support. Although contemporary theorists acknowledge that women's access to wage labor can empower them within the family structure, Engels claimed that capitalism increased patriarchy.