feminism and economy

para:

current system perpetuates male dominance

tension over root causes of econ inequality

libfem and socfem over capitalism

current system discriminates against women

-most agree restrictions to womens access to well paid work. women econ fependence on men key factor in oppression. undervalued womens work eg domestic labour. gender stereotypes play key role in setting econ role of women. gilman: trad family structure economically disadvantagaes women, reinforce dependence on men. friedan: societal expectations concept of feminine mystique confined them to domestic roles. econ system benefited from womens unpaid work at home-allows men to dominatee professional sphere. millet (radical) econ system perpetuates male dominance by maintianing women econ dependence and undervaluing their work

tension over root causes of economic inequality

tension btw libfem and socfem.

libfem: root cause of econ inequal is unequal access to civil rights and social resources eg education and employment thus patriarchy root cause. libs do not seek to challenge capitalist system unlike soc and radfem. wollstonecraft from a vindication of the rights of women: womens subordination due to lack of access to education and societal norms petrpetuated by patririachal soc

socfem: capitalist economy at heart of female oppression. rowbotham: capitalism exploits women as a cheap labour force-women often relegated to low paying precarious jobs + expected unpaid home labour. both capitalism and patriarchy needs dismantling

postmodern: disagree w both: additional factors eg colour class religion also affect womens postition in economy (hooks)

capitalism

libfem dont support any fundamental challenges to capitalism or any restrictions placed on economic freedom. support core principles of liberalism esp individualism, right to own prop and meritocracy. states role is to enable to pursue careers for the state to support womens entry into workforce thru polcies like childcare and equal pay. demand political equality not economic. so equality of opportunity

socfem: state should intervene to dismantle capitalist and patriarchal structures that exploit women. state should take steps to ensure greater econ equality. revolutionary: revolultion within a revolution (rowbotham) need to restructure both sources of oppression.

radfem: (like millett) argue patriachy is independent system of opression- abolition of capitalism will not remove patriarchy

postmod: disagree w radfem focus too narrowly on white middle class women in economy. but radfem argue womens role in econ represents all women no matter their class or colour.