Feminist Economy

Question 1

How do feminists agree on the economy?

Answer 1

• Women traditionally barred from well-paid/respected occupations e.g law/medicine
• women are still paid less than men – ‘the pay gap’ (82%, 91%)
• Confined to lower paid, temporary or part-time sections of the workforce.
• ‘the glass ceiling’ - even in occupations where women are commonly employed.
• Women used as ‘a reserve army of labour’ – employed during economic booms or during major wars. Once no longer needed, they are expected to return to housework.
• Face sexual harassment at work. When carried out or ignored by senior members of staff it is difficult to put an end to.

Question 2

What did Marxist thinker Friedrich Engels say regarding the feminist economy?

Answer 2

• Private property and wealth being
  inherited through the male line causes oppression(the family creates oppression)
• Monogamy forced on women in marriage to ensure correct paternity of children, men often ignored this
• Domestic work is unpaid/low status, women economically dependent upon men
• Divisions between sex’s encouraged by bourgeoisie to undermine social solidarity/decrease likelihood of revolution
• End of private property leads to end of patriarchal family/creation of communal child care and gender equality.
• Under Socialism marriage would be dissolvable; monogamy would disappear

Question 3

What do Liberal feminists believe about the Feminist economy?

Answer 3

• Rejects this Socialist critique of capitalism. Simply a case of removing traditional barriers, equalising access to the public sphere and delivering equal rights, justice and laws for women so that women have equal opportunities with men and can compete on a meritocratic basis within the economy. The economy needs to be reformed, rather than overthrown.

Question 4

How may Socialists and radicals agree?

Answer 4

• As pointed out by Engles the family creates oppression this is also believed by radicals
• similarly radicals campaigned for domestic work to be paid and socialists believe domestic work is purposely undervalued in order to keep women in a subordinate position