Marxist Feminism

Theoretical Perspectives: Marxist Feminism

Key ideas: 

• Social class more important than patriarchy.
• Class inequality = cause of female oppression, exploitation, discrimination.
• Patriarchal Ideology (justifies economic exploitation of women).
• Women are not a "sex class" (only thing they have in common is their sex).
• Family system benefits Capitalism and Men.
• Domestic Labour = form of exploitation (unpaid domestic labour).
• Dual Female Role (family and work).
• Reserve Army of Labour (McIntosh).
• Gender Socialisation (feminine / masculine cultural roles).
• Men socialised into exploitative relationships at work (carry this socialisation over into the home and their relationship to women).
  
• Do not see men as the "enemy" of women (Radical Feminism).
• Emancipation of women only through overthrow of Capitalism.
• Communist society = non-exploitation.

Key Names: McIntosh, Coontz and Henderson, Benston, Dalla Costa, James.

Key Criticisms: 

• Patriarchy predates Capitalism
• Capitalism merely an extension of Patriarchal ideology / exploitation.
• Over emphasis on economic class relationships
• Over emphasis on Capitalist forms of exploitation.
• Under emphasises patriarchal forms of exploitation
  
• Assumes men and women have similar interests (overthrow of Capitalism)
  
• Communism as "solution" to female exploitation = very unlikely
• Denies that women have common interests (sex class)

Key Critics: Radical Feminists (Firestone, Millet, Delphy, etc.), New Right (politicians, journalists).