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Socialist Feminism - Key Thinker Sheila Rowbotham - Coggle Diagram
Socialist Feminism - Key Thinker Sheila Rowbotham
KEY THINKER: Sheila Rowbotham
Takes up Engel's theory and proposes an equally revolutionary solution:
The overthrow of capitalism and its replacement by a new world where equality is paramount
She is described as a socialist rather than a Marxist as she rejects the the rigid economic determinism of Marx
For her, female oppression has its roots BUT it also stems from the traditional nature of the nuclear family and the cultural dominance of male sexuality
For Rowbotham, economic liberation and equality of women is a precondition for sexual revolution BUT it is not sufficient in raising the consciousness of women or to ensure their ability to define their future
Rowbotham argues that capitalism systemically oppresses both the working class and women and therefore female members of the proletariat face 2 evils as they are forced to survive and are forced to use their labour to support their family
Within a capitalist system, the family unit serves as an instrument of control over women to facilitate the production and reproduction of men's labour. She notes that the origins of sexism predate capitalism and that the institution of marriage closely resembles a feudalist structure
She argues that women's liberation is 'a revolution within a revolution' because sexism is entrenched within left-wing men as it is amongst men on the right of the political spectrum
Summary of Rowbotham's beliefs
Capitalism and neo-liberalism has meant that women are just a cheap source of labour, with little escape from the patriarchy
Men cannot see when women are being oppressed
Capitalism is responsible for patriarchy and most advances for women happen after socialist revolutions
Support for Marx's ideas of oppressed women BUT argues it should also include in the home as well as the workplace
Men must aim to end the patriarchy as the personal is political
Criticisms Made by Sheila Rowbotham
Critical of orthodox Marxist history for its neglect of issues such as family history, the role of housewives, sexuality and maternity - all of which tend to downplay the political importance of women within society
To resolve this, she advocates a theory of history that accord equal importance to both sexes in its understanding of historical development
Rowbotham claims that the political left needs to consider the oppression of women in cultural as well as economic terms. The preoccupation with economic determinism ignores the role played by cultural forces in the oppression of women. She also
contends that historians have a duty to act as a force of social change
She rejects liberal feminist arguments that the women's movement is best served via a constructive with the conventional political process
According to Rowbotham, only revolutionary socialist movements have secured social gains for women
Rowbotham rejects the radical feminist view that men have no role to play within the quest for female emancipation. Women and men should stand together against the oppression caused by capitalism
Rowbotham's views on the key themes
Human nature: Women's consciousness of the world is created by men
The state: The state is the servant of capitalism
Society: The nature of society is economically determined and it reflects the dominant position of capitalists and men in general
The economy: Rowbotham holds a Marxist perspective as she believes that Women are a low-paid reserve army of labour
Rowbotham is a
SECOND WAVE
feminist