Marxist Feminism

What type of inequality do Marxist Feminists believe exists in society?

Class inequality

The cause of this oppression (class inequality) is social institutions ________ the capitalist ideology so it appears _________, shaping society with a __________

Spreading and maintaining

Fair, normal, and inevitable

False class consciousness

What is an example of the family (a social institution) maintaining the capitalist ideology?

Seen as a unit of consumption, needing to buy things to survive

Feeds into canalisation

What is canalisation?

Reinforcing traditional gender roles to children through buying toys, such as cars for boys and toy kitchens for girls

What evidence is there of this oppression (class inequality) according to Ansley? What does the saying mean?

Women are ‘takers of shit’, absorbing their husband's anger which would otherwise be directed at Capitalism

Women are sometimes referred to as the ‘______’ as they help to release…

Safety valve

Pressure from their husbands who feel alienated and exploited in the workplace

Women are also said to be __________. When no longer needed, employers can ‘________’ to return to…

A reserved army of labour

‘Let them go’

Unpaid Domestic labour where they maintain a healthy, hardworking family and socialise the next generation of workers

What is a real world example of women being a reserve army of labour?

During WW2 when women took over jobs in factories when men were absent

Nurseries opened during WW2 but closed when men returned since women returned to the role of caring for the children

What is the solution to this oppression (class inequality)?

The proletariat gain class consciousness which would lead to a communist revolution, creating a fair, classless, moneyless society

What does Marxist Feminism ignore?

Other points of conflict which has an impact on women's oppression, such as race and sexuality

Radical feminists criticise Marxist feminists for bringing too much emphasis on…

Capitalism being the reason for women's oppression and not men as being the source of issues in progress