Socialist feminism

sex gender divide

has made life worse for women both in the home and workplace

sex gender divide and capitalism

problems caused by sex/gender divide is part of a larger system of discrimination caused by patriarchal capitalism

capitalism and oppression of female workers

the idea women are naturally worse works to the advantage of employers who can hire women more cheaply to do worse jobs

why do traditional gender roles benefit capitalism

women doing housework and childcare benefits employers as it frees male workers up to focus just on wage earning

How do socialist feminists believe women are exploited in both the workplace and the home?

At work, they are paid less and more likely to be sacked during downturns; at home, they do unpaid and unappreciated labour.

What is the Marxist feminist solution to gender inequality?

A revolution to overthrow capitalism and establish a society based on full equality between men and women.

How do moderate socialist feminists differ from Marxist feminists?

They believe capitalism can be reformed to achieve gender equality, rather than needing to be overthrown.

What legal reform do moderate socialist feminists support?

Giving women equal legal entitlement to jobs for which they are equally qualified as men.

What is the long-term goal of moderate socialist feminists for women in the workplace?

Equal representation in senior roles and equal respect for women and men at work.

how do socialist feminists and radical feminists agree

repression within the home matters as the unpaid work they do in the home props up the capitalist state

socialist feminist and the state

patriarchal capitalism emerged from and is upheld by the state so as long as it exists most citizens won’t have freedom

Marxist feminists and the state

revolution needed to overthrow the state followed by a brief period of dictatorship by the proletariat which will embed a society of complete social and gender equality which eventually withers away

moderate socialist feminists and the state

state has an ongoing role in defending citizens’ rights and managing means of production etc in a way that guarantees equality of outcome for all

example of socialist feminists highlighting failed role of the state

Reclaim the night marches that draw attention to low conviction rates for sexual offences

reserve army of labour

members of society who are economically in active but ready and able to step into employment at a moment’s notice when employers need to boost productivity but are dismissed when no longer needed

Engels view about the economy and feminism

before capitalism, the work done by women had been considered equally vital as mens but capitalism

women part of what army

reserve army of labour only called upon when male labour in short demand

how does reserve army of labour keep low

current workforce is so easily replaceable so they have no political leverage

why did Shelia Rowbotham believe the end of capitalism would benefit women more than men

because their weak position as the reserve army of labour which kept them without bargaining power would end

Shelia Rowbotham and liberal feminism

had done a good job to raise awareness about subjugation in the public sphere but had done little to address oppression of working class women or housewives

capitalism affecting working class women more than men

like men they had to sell their labour to exploitative employers but unlike men had to work for free in homes controlled by men

Rowbotham and women in work

it should be easier for women to work flexible hours and creches should be provided by employers for their employees children

what did Rowbotham want removed from the English language

words like ‘women’s work’ as they implied that the work was of lesser value and used to justify low pay

Rowbotham and general motors

rejected their argument that as they allowed women time of to have babies, it was acceptable for them to discriminate against them in other ways

Rowbotham housewives v workers

suffered more than workers as their work went unacknowledged by society and they relied on an allowance from their husbands, wanted state to pay housewives a minimum wage

What did Rowbotham think was crucial to transforming society

revolutionary groups where it would be acceptable to exclude men from at first to allow women to gain confidence as political activists, revolution in mens thinking needed

Engels belief about women and capitalism

women had always been deprived of private property which led to them being oppressed by private property owners like peasants and workers had been

How do modern marxist feminists criticise engles

for the emphasis that he places on property as the source of female oppression as it hasn’t stopped despite many women becoming private property owners

two sources of oppression for socialist feminists

class and the patriarchy

example of a modification to capitalism freeing women from patriarchy

state ownership of industry would eliminate the need for men and women to compete

Rowbotham and Marx

rejects rigid economic determinism of Marx and believes source of womens’ oppression is economic but also due to the traditional nature of nuclear families

aim above all for socialist feminists

liberation of women from economic dependence on mean

Chicago women’s liberation movement

founded in 1969, led the socialist feminist movement in the USA

strategy of the chicago womens liberation movement

two pronged attack against the patriarchy, first power to be distributed more evenly in society and second a culture change like better education of women