The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State is a 1884 work by Friedrich Engels that argues, based on Lewis H. Morgan’s anthropological work, that private property, rather than God or nature, is the historical origin of the subjugation of women and the rise of the patriarchal family and the state. Engels posits that early human society was matrilineal and communal, but the development of private property led to the need to control inheritance and, in turn, caused the rise of the nuclear family and patriarchal authority. He concludes that the state’s origin is tied to class society and the need to maintain private property, and predicts its eventual withering away in a classless, communist society.
Key Concepts
Critique of Victorian Family: Engels challenged the idea that the monogamous, patriarchal nuclear family was a timeless or natural institution, arguing it was a product of specific historical and economic conditions tied to capitalism.
Historical Materialism: The book applies Marxist theory to the evolution of social structures, asserting that economic forces and the material conditions of production are primary drivers of social and political change.
Matrilineal to Patrilineal Shift: Engels proposed that early societies were matrilineal (descent and authority traced through the mother), but the need to control and pass down private property, especially herd animals, led to the establishment of patrilineal systems.
Woman’s “World Historical Defeat”: The introduction of private property and inheritance laws resulted in women’s disempowerment and the emergence of monogamous marriage as a means for men to secure legitimate heirs.
Role of the State: The state, in Engels’ view, arose from the contradictions of a class-divided society and exists to protect the interests of the propertied class.
Communism as an Alternative: Engels suggests that eliminating private property and establishing a communist society would lead to the abolition of the state and women’s true liberation and equality.
Based on Lewis H. Morgan’s Work
Engels heavily relied on the research of American anthropologist Lewis H. Morgan, particularly his book Ancient Society.
Morgan’s work classified human societies into stages of savagery, barbarism, and civilization and highlighted matrilineal kinship systems in Iroquois society.
Historical Context and Influence
The work was written in the late 19th century, a period of intense scientific and societal change.
It was a significant influence on Marxist feminism and continues to be a foundational text for discussions on gender and class.
While influential, some of its conclusions and terminology are considered outdated or offensive by modern anthropologists and historians.
