Basis in Marxist Sociology
The theory and method of historical study developed by Marx, termed historical materialism, puts heavy emphasis on the role of contingent economic and technological states of affairs in determining the base structure of society, which in turn drives social revolutions to bring the cultural, educational, governmental and legal systems, as well as political, religious, and social institutions into line with the demands of the base structure. The Marxist theory is strongly deterministic and confers little explanatory power on intellectual revolutions and the power of ideas to drive social change; on a variety of topics, Marx consistently argues that the range of legal and moral states of affairs are principally set by the current ruling class of society in accordance with their interests and needs to maintain and increase their power against lower classes.
In developing theoretical explanations for gender inequality, Engels would work within this framework following Marx, tracing the history of the institution of the family and its substance in law and mores to gender conflict between men and women rooted in their competing economic interests.
Read more about this topic: Marxist Feminism
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