Marxist Feminism

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Marxist Feminism

The objective of my paper is to examine the connection between Capitalism and women’s both social and economical inequality. Marxist feminism explores this question by laying out an economic theory that shows a correlation between the emergence of capitalism, production and private property and the continued oppression of women. Other theorists argue that this oppression is due to an already existing patriarchal society.

Is the exploitation of women in the home through an unfair division of labor a result of the beginnings of capitalism? Is this exploitation in the home a cause of other inequalities, mainly those in the wage labor market? Is capitalism bolstered by already existing patriarchal social relations, or is capitalism continuing to reinforce patriarchal systems? Finally is it possible to liberate women and reach true equality in our current capitalist economy? These are the main questions I will examine throughout my paper.

These questions and the objective of my paper are significant to explore because they will help me to better understand my current status as a women in our capitalist economy. Understanding the origin of women’s economic oppression, and other inequalities, is a part of reaching an idea of how to remedy our current situation as women. It is important to me to answer the questions I have laid forth in order to take small steps in personally and possibly publicly, changing the current position of women.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Booth, Janine, Rosie Woods, “Women, Capitalism & Socialism” Worker

Liberty Magazine, no. 58, Oct. 1999.

Braunstein, Elissa, Nancy Folbre, “To Honor & Obey: Efficiency, Inequality

& Patriarchal Property Rights, Feminist Economics, Vol. 7, no. 1, Nov 2001.

Engels, Frederick. The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State,

1972 (original date 1884).

Hartmann, Heidi “Capitalism, Patriarchy, and Job Segregation by Sex” in Zillah

Eisenstein (ed.) Capitalist Patriarchy & the Case for Socialist Feminism, New

York: Monthly Review Press, 1979.

Hartmann, Heidi “ The Unhappy Marriage of Marxism & Feminism: Toward a

More Progressive Union” in Lydia Sargent (ed.

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