Final answer:
Friedrich Engels claimed that capitalism increased patriarchy by reinforcing economic dependency of women on men, paralleling the proletariat's subjugation in the broader capitalist system. Engels' views suggest that as women gain economic power through wage labor, they can potentially alter family power dynamics, although challenges remain. This critique is part of a broader Marxist analysis of capitalist society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Friedrich Engels, a prominent German sociologist, critically examined family structure and gender roles within the context of capitalist society. Engels argued that capitalism accentuated patriarchal structures, drawing a parallel between the owner-worker relationship in the labor market and the male-female dynamics within the household. He observed that women, much like the working class or the proletariat, were subjugated in part due to their economic dependency on men. Additionally, Engels theorized that women's reliance on men for wages, and in some cases, total dependence on spouses for economic support, intensified the patriarchal control.
Engels' insights align with the conflict theory in sociology, which addresses the power imbalances within social structures. Marxism, a framework that he helped develop alongside Karl Marx, critically assesses these power dynamics, contextualizing the struggle for gender equality alongside the class struggle. Capitalism, from a Marxist perspective, reinforces and perpetuates these inequalities. However, Engels also implied that as women entered wage labor, they began to challenge the traditional power hierarchies at home, potentially leading to more egalitarian family structures, despite a continuing disproportionate share of domestic responsibilities.
Moreover, Marx and Engels criticized the capitalist system more broadly for its exploitative nature, referring to it as a "dictatorship of the bourgeoisie." This harsh critique extended to various aspects of society, including the reinforcement of gender roles and the stratification of class.