MARXIST FEMINISM Marxist feminists argue that the main

MARXIST FEMINISM Marxist feminists argue that the main cause of women’s oppression is the capitalist economic system.

MARXISM • Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19 th century by two German philosophers, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It is an economic and socio-political worldview and method of socio-economic enquiry that is centred upon a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism.

FEMINISM • Feminists hold the thought that women deserve equal political, economic and social rights. In addition to this, a feminist seeks to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. Feminist theory seeks to understand the nature of gender inequality, and to examine women’s social roles and lived experience. One strand of feminism is Marxist feminism.

What Marxist Feminists believe? • Women’s subordination was a consequence of the introduction of private property, women became the property of men and the first oppressed class • Women’s oppression was caused by their economic dependence in the family but also in the work force, this keeps an exploitable reserve labour force • Women have always had unpaid work (housewife) and most low paying and boring jobs • Women must have equal participation in the economic production process • Propose wages for housework, developing a system for paying women directly for their household work