(Marxist) Feminist Theory Of Class Inequality

Question 1

What are the four explanations for class inequality?

Answer 1

1. Women reproduce the next generation of workers and socialise them- women accept their place in capitalist society
2. Women’s domestic work is unpaid- this supports the capitalist system
3. Women soothe the stresses and frustrations of the proletariats- women’s role aids false class consciousness
4. Women’s role also support the capitalist ideology women are a reserve army of labour

Question 2

Who said women reproduce the next generation of workers and socialise them- women accept their place in capitalist society?

Answer 2

• Feeley

Question 3

What did Feeley say?

Answer 3

• women emerge from family life preconditioned to accept their place in the capitalist hierarchy
• family is designed to teach passivity not rebellion and children are trained to be obedient and docile workers
• it socialises family members to accept traditional roles and the false idea that it is natural for them to take responsibilities for different roles so become unquestioning
• so ideology of the family in a capitalist society supports the patriarchy as it promoted passivity and conformity

Question 4

Who said women’s domestic work is unpaid?

Answer 4

• Benston

Question 5

What did Benston say?

Answer 5

• if a man has to provide for his wife and children, this means that he is less likely to challenge capitalism
• unpaid domestic labour if women helps support the capitalist system, if women were paid a wage for their work there would have to be huge redistributions of wealth
• criticises nuclear family and a woman’s role within it as it is a stabilising force in a capitalist society

Question 6

Who said women soothe the stresses and frustrations of the proletariat?

Answer 6

• Ansley

Question 7

What did Ansley say?

Answer 7

• as husbands return home having been exploited at work they take their frustrations and anger to their wives not their bosses
• in capitalist society women are takers of shit
• if all workers have their own sponge this will aid the false class consciousness and discourage revolution as men are venting their frustrations at their wives rather than their exploitative employers

Question 8

Who said women’s roles also support the capitalist ideology?

Answer 8

• Bruegel

Question 9

What did Bruegel say?

Answer 9

• women are a cheap reserve army of labour brought in during economic nooks but thrown out during slumps
• women are often not members of trade unions and are prepared to work for less money as their wage or second income so are part of the group within society that are easy to exploit