Marxist feminism

Question 1

What is the view of Marxist Feminists?

Answer 1

Marxist feminists reject Liberal and Radical feminists’ explanations for the causes of women’s oppression. Instead, they see women’s subordination because of capitalism. Although men benefit from women’s subordination, the main beneficiary is capitalism. Women’s subordination results from their role as an unpaid domestic housewife as it places them in an economically dependent position in the family.

Question 2

List four important functions for Capitalism that the subordination of women provides:

Answer 2

1. Women are the source of cheap exploitable labour – they can be paid less because it can be assumed that they are dependent on their husbands.
2. Women are a reserve army of labour – during boom and recession women can be called upon to work. Women are brought into the labour market in economic boom times and the first to be sacked in recessions and returned back to the role of unpaid housewife.
3. Women reproduce the labour force through their unpaid domestic work, nurturing and socialising children to become the next generation of workers.
4. Women absorb anger – women are the ‘takers of shit’ (Ansley) from their husbands who feel frustrated with the system. By absorbing the anger, there is no threat to the system and prevents realisation as to the true cause of their frustration (i.e. capitalism).

Question 3

What was Barrett’s study called?

Date

Describe his/her views

Answer 3

The Ideology of Familism

1980

‘The ideology of familism’ argues women’s roles also support the capitalist ideology, to maintain positive feelings and motivation for the capitalist system to continue. The nuclear family is perceived as ideal and is a place where women can achieve fulfilment through motherhood and the housewife role. For Barrett, the revolution must also remove expectations about the role that women play in the family to ensure that domestic labour is shared equally.

Question 4

What was Fran Ansley’s study called?

Date

Describe her views.

Answer 4

Women are takers of shit

1972

‘Women are takers of shit’ - Women absorb anger that would otherwise be focused on Capitalist bosses. Wives are ‘takers of shit’ as they suffer at the hands of alienated and frustrated husbands due to their work experience. This stops men taking their frustration out on bosses. This is why government refused to focus on domestic violence for many years and preferred to view it as a private affair. (ie Rape was legally allowed in marriages until 1991 in the UK compared to 1922 in the former Soviet Union).

Question 5

How to improve women’s position in society. Two answers:

1. Marxist Feminist
2. Incomplete notes

Answer 5

1. Marxist feminists argue that women’s interests lie in the overthrow of capitalism.
2. Overthrow the ideology of familism at the same time.

Question 6

Review of Marxist Feminism. Is this still relevant today?

Answer 6

May have lost validity given the increasing participation of women in the labour market and decline of traditional housewife role. However, the recent recession highlighted women’s vulnerable position in the labour market

Question 7

Does Marxist Feminism explain women’s subordination in all societies?

Answer 7

No Marxist Feminism fails to explain women’s subordination in non-capitalist societies

Question 8

Do men benefit more from Patriarchy or Capitalism in the views of Marxist Feminists?

Answer 8

Men benefit more from patriarchy than capitalism (Radical Feminism).

Question 9

What did Hartman say about the role women doing housework?

Answer 9

It is ‘sex blind’ as why is it women not men who do housework (Hartmann 1979)?

Question 10

Should women work within Marxist theory?

Answer 10

Many argue that it makes no sense within Marxist theory for women not to work. Two workers would create more surplus value for employers, whilst also earning couples have more money to spend on consuming products and now needed services such as childcare again boosting employer profits.