Theories of Oppressions What is Oppression n Oppression

Theories of Oppressions

What is Oppression? n Oppression is not simply something one person does to another. n Oppression is a system of organization that shapes material reality and ideological landscapes such that one group receives benefits over another group.

Gendered Racial Oppression n The “choices” we make daily are rooted in assumptions about the “naturalness” of oppresssion n But “choices” we make about labor, love and life are created within a set of relations that benefit men, as a group, whites, as a group, heterosexuals, as a group and the wealthy, as a group.

Eisenstein article n She discusses gender and class. She excludes race and sexuality n But, she claims you can’t talk about class by itself or women by themselves. Class oppression and gendered oppression are related.

Eisenstein on Marx in History n Marxist terms worth understanding: n n Exploitation Species Being Hegemony Historical Materialism

Marx continued n What did Marx say about class oppression? n What did Marx say about gendered oppression?

Eisenstein on Radical Feminism n History of Radical Feminism n Patriarchy – a sex/gendered system by which institutions and ideologies are established so that men as a group benefit over women. n n When women gain power, there are backlashes: witches; emphasis on skinny and petite; today, it’s fear that men are not motivated enough because of Homers…. Capitalism occurred later than Patriarchy so patriarchy needs to be understood separately

Radical Feminism n Women are controlled by men through: n n n Controlling sexuality Controlling motherhood Eisenstein claim RF place too much emphasis on how biological act of reproduction creates oppression. Why does caretaking become de-valued?

Eisenstein on Socialist Feminism n She, fallaciously, assumes race cannot be discussed. 1) She argues: n Women are exploited under patriarchy and class systems. n Sex Oppression has both a material reality: sex roles and ideological reality (stories, music, etc that support ideas)

SF continued n Sex Oppression will look different based on the material reality in society. n In Capitalism, we must understand oppression within four basic structures: n Productive labor Reproductive Labor Sexuality Socialization of Children n

SF continued n n n n Capitalists benefit from Patriarchy by: Divide and conquer Wages Train workers for free Consumers Men as a group benefit from Patriarchy by Divide and conquer Economic Power

Radical Feminism What mechanisms exist for Social Change?