marxist feminism

• Marxist feminists dismiss the liberal feminist view that women's subordination is merely the product of s____ or o_____ a____.

• They also reject the radical feminist view that it is the result of p____ o____ by men.

• Instead, as Marxists, they see women's subordination as rooted in c___^.

• Although individual men may benefit from women's subordination, who is the main beneficiary?

• Marxist feminists dismiss the liberal feminist view that women's subordination is merely the product of stereotyping or outdated attitudes.

• They also reject the radical feminist view that it is the result of patriarchal oppression by men.

• Instead, as Marxists, they see women's subordination as rooted in capitalism.

• Although individual men may benefit from women's subordination, is the entire system of capitalism as a whole

For Marxist feminists, women's subordination in capitalist society results from their p____ r____ as u____ homemaker, which places them in a d____ e___ position in the family.

Their subordination performs a number of important functions for capitalism:

• Women are a source of c___, e____ l___ for employers. They can be paid l____ because it is assumed they will be p____ d____ on their husbands' e____.

• Women are a r____ army of l____ that can be moved into the labour force during e____ booms and out again at times of r____. They can be treated as m____ workers in this way because it is assumed their p___ r___ is in the h___.

• Women r_____ the labour force through their u___ d____ labour, both by n____ and s____ c____ to become the n____ g____ of workers and by m____ and servicing the c____ g_____ of workers - their husbands. They do this at no cost to c_____.

• Women a____ a____ that would otherwise be directed at c____. F____ A____ (1972) describes wives as 't___ of s____' who soak up the f____ their husbands feel because of the an_____ and e____ they suffer at work. For Marxist feminists, this explains m____ d_____ violence against women.

Because of these links between women's s_____ and c____, Marxist feminists argue that women's interests lie in the o_____ of c____.

For Marxist feminists, women's subordination in capitalist society results from their primary role as unpaid homemaker, which places them in a dependent economic position in the family.

Their subordination performs a number of important functions for capitalism:

• Women are a source of cheap, exploitable labour for employers. They can be paid less because it is assumed they will be partially dependent on their husbands' earnings.

• Women are a reserve army of labour that can be moved into the labour force during economic booms and out again at times of recession. They can be treated as marginal workers in this way because it is assumed their primary role is in the home.

• Women reproduce the labour force through their unpaid domestic labour, both by nurturing and socialising children to become the next generation of workers and by maintaining and servicing the current generation of workers - their husbands. They do this at no cost to capitalism.

• Women absorb anger that would otherwise be directed at capitalism. Fran Ansley (1972) describes wives as 'takers of shit' who soak up the frustration their husbands feel because of the alienation and exploitation they suffer at work. For Marxist feminists, this explains male domestic violence against women.

Because of these links between women's subordination and capitalism, Marxist feminists argue that women's interests lie in the overthrow of capitalism.

Barrett: the ideology of familism

• All Marxist feminists agree that women's subordination within the family performs important e_____ functions for capitalism.

• However, some argue that n__-e_____ factors must also be taken into account if we are to u____ and c____ w____ p____.

• For example, B____ (1980) argues that we must give more emphasis to women's c____ and m____, and to the role of i____ in maintaining their o____.

• For example, why do women marry and live in the conventional nuclear family when this is precisely what oppresses them? According to B____, the answer lies in the ideology of 'familism'. - what is this?

• The family is portrayed as the only place where women can attain f_____, through m_____, i____ and s____ s____. This ideology helps to keep women s_____.

Barrett: the ideology of familism

• All Marxist feminists agree that women's subordination within the family performs important economic functions for capitalism.

• However, some argue that non-economic factors must also be taken into account if we are to understand and change women's position.

• For example, Barrett (1980) argues that we must give more emphasis to women's consciousness and motivations, and to the role of ideology in maintaining their oppression.

• For example, why do women marry and live in the conventional nuclear family when this is precisely what oppresses them? According to Barrett, the answer lies in the ideology of 'familism'. This ideology presents the nuclear family and its sexual division of labour (where women perform unpaid domestic work) as natural and normal.

• The family is portrayed as the only place where women can attain fulfilment, through motherhood, intimacy and sexual satisfaction. This ideology helps to keep women subordinated.

Barrett: the ideology of familism

• Therefore, while Barrett believes that the overthrow of c_____ is necessary to secure women's liberation, she argues that it is not s____.

• We must also overthrow the ideology of familism that u_____ the c____ family and its u____ d_____ of labour. This would free the sexes from r____ s_____ and ensure domestic labour was shared e____

• Some feminists take the analysis of ideology further to explain why women seem to freely accept what?

• These writers often draw on non-Marxist and even non-sociological ideas. For example, M_____ (1975) uses Freud's psychoanalytic theory how?

• The implication is that even after the overthrow of capitalism, it would still be hard to do what?

Barrett: the ideology of familism

• Therefore, while Barrett believes that the overthrow of capitalism is necessary to secure women's liberation, she argues that it is not sufficient.

• We must also overthrow the ideology of familism that underpins the conventional family and its unequal division of labour. This would free the sexes from restrictive stereotypes and ensure domestic labour was shared equally

• Some feminists take the analysis of ideology further to explain why women seem to freely accept oppressive family and marital relationships.

• These writers often draw on non-Marxist and even non-sociological ideas. For example, Mitchell (1975) uses Freud's psychoanalytic theory to argue that ideas about femininity are so deeply implanted in women's unconscious minds that they are very difficult to dislodge.

• The implication is that even after the overthrow of capitalism, it would still be hard to overcome patriarchal ideology because it is so deeply rooted

Dual systems feminism

Dual systems feminists have sought to combine the key features of M____ and r____ feminism in a single theory.

The two systems referred to are:

• An e____ system: c____

• A s___-g___ system: p___

Dual systems feminism

Dual systems feminists have sought to combine the key features of Marxist and radical feminism in a single theory.

The two systems referred to are:

• An economic system: capitalism

• A sex-gender system: patriarchy

Dual systems feminism

• As we have seen, radical feminism regards p____ as the cause of w___ o____, while Marxist feminism sees c____ as responsible.

• Dual systems theorists such as H____ (1979) see capitalism and patriarchy as two i____ systems that form a single entity, 'p___ c____'.

• Like radical feminism, these theorists accept that patriarchy is universal, but they argue that patriarchy takes a s____ f____ in capitalist societies.

Dual systems feminism

• As we have seen, radical feminism regards patriarchy as the cause of women's oppression, while Marxist feminism sees capitalism as responsible.

• Dual systems theorists such as Hartmann (1979) see capitalism and patriarchy as two intertwined systems that form a single entity, 'patriarchal capitalism'.

• Like radical feminism, these theorists accept that patriarchy is universal, but they argue that patriarchy takes a specific form in capitalist societies.

Dual systems feminism

• From this viewpoint, to understand women's subordination, we must look at the relationship between what 2 things?

• For example, d____ w____ limits women's a____ for paid work - but the lack of work o____ drives many women into m____ and e____ dependence on a man.

• Thus, the two systems r____ each other.

Dual systems feminism

• From this viewpoint, to understand women's subordination, we must look at the relationship between their position both in the domestic division of labour (patriarchy) and in paid work (capitalism).

• For example, domestic work limits women's availability for paid work - but the lack of work opportunities drives many women into marriage and economic dependence on a man.

• Thus, the two systems reinforce each other.

Dual systems feminism

• Similarly, Walby (1988) argues that capitalism and patriarchy are i____-r____.

• However, she argues that the interests of the two are not always the same. In particular, they c____ over the e____ of female labour.

• While capitalism what?, patriarchy resists this, wanting to do what?

• However, in the long run, capitalism is usually more powerful how?

• So patriarchy adopts a strategy of c____ of s____ instead: women are allowed into the c____ s____ of p____ w___, but only in l___ s____ 'women's' jobs, s___ to m___.

✓- Walby's approach is useful because it shows how the two systems i____ and s_^^^ one another, without assuming that their interests always c____.

✘- However, P_____ (1996) argues that patriarchy is not actually a ‘r____’ system in the same sense as capitalism, which is driven by its own i_____ dynamic of profit making. By contrast, Pollert argues, 'patriarchy' is merely a d___ term for a range of practices such as m____ v_____ and control of women's labour.

Dual systems feminism

• Similarly, Walby (1988) argues that capitalism and patriarchy are inter-related.

• However, she argues that the interests of the two are not always the same. In particular, they collide over the exploitation of female labour.

• While capitalism demands cheap female labour for its workforce, patriarchy resists this, wanting to keep women subordinated to men within the private, domestic sphere

• However, in the long run, capitalism is usually more powerful the economy (jobs, wages, businesses) people’s livelihoods (everyone needs work to survive)

• So patriarchy adopts a strategy of compromise of segregation instead: women are allowed into the capitalist sphere of paid work, but only in low status 'women's' jobs, subordinated to men.

✓- Walby's approach is useful because it shows how the two systems interact and structure one another, without assuming that their interests always coincide.

✘- However, Pollert (1996) argues that patriarchy is not actually a ‘real’ system in the same sense as capitalism, which is driven by its own internal dynamic of profit making. By contrast, Pollert argues, 'patriarchy' is merely a descriptive term for a range of practices such as male violence and control of women's labour.

Evaluation of Marxist feminism ✓strengths

✓Given the importance of economic production to most other areas of social life, Marxist feminists are correct to give weight to the relationship between c____ and w____ s___.

• They show a greater understanding of the importance of s_____ f_____ than liberal feminism.

Evaluation of Marxist feminism ✓strengths

✓Given the importance of economic production to most other areas of social life, Marxist feminists are correct to give weight to the relationship between capitalism and women's subordination.

• They show a greater understanding of the importance of structural factors than liberal feminism

Evaluation of Marxist feminism ✘limitations

✘- It fails to explain women's subordination in n____-c____ societies.

• As women's subordination is also found in n___-capitalist societies, it cannot be explained solely in terms of the needs of c____

✘- U____ d____ l____ may benefit C____, as Marxist feminists claim, but this doesn't explain why it is s____ w____ and not m____ who perform it.

• H_____ (1981) argues that this is because Marxism is 's___-b__' as it fails social norms about gender roles

✘-It is not proven that unpaid domestic labour is in fact the c____ way of reproducing labour power.

For example, it night be done more cheaply through the m____ or through s____ p____ such as p____ f____ n____.

Evaluation of Marxist feminism ✘limitations

✘- It fails to explain women's subordination in non-capitalist societies.

• As women's subordination is also found in non-capitalist societies, it cannot be explained solely in terms of the needs of capitalism.

✘- Unpaid domestic labour may benefit capitalism, as Marxist feminists claim, but this doesn't explain why it is specifically women and not men who perform it.

• Hartmann (1981) argues that this is because Marxism is 'sex-blind' as it fails social norms about gender roles

✘-It is not proven that unpaid domestic labour is in fact the cheapest way of reproducing labour power.

For example, it night be done more cheaply through the market or through state provision such as publicly funded nurseries.