Sheila Rowbotham

Question 1

Background/Book

Answer 1

• Leading socialist feminist
• Has a marxist background, but criticised them for taking a narrow view of the oppression of women
• Book = Women’s Consciousness, Men’s World (1973)

Question 2

HN

Answer 2

• Women’s consciousness of the world is created by men
• ‘Men will often admit other women are oppressed, but not you’
• Implied that men cannot explain the nature of oppression they are imposing on women

Question 3

The state

Answer 3

• State is the servant of capitalism
• Best hope lies in a socialist future
• Greatest advances for women have taken place after socialist revolutions

Question 4

Society

Answer 4

• The nature of society is economically determined, society reflects the dominant positions of both capitalists and men
• Women are oppressed in wider culture
• Only in a society where complete equality is imposed will women have the same status as men

Question 5

Economy

Answer 5

Women are a low paid reserve army of cheap labour