Capitalist Patriarchy and the Case for Socialist Feminism
Encyclopedia
Capitalist Patriarchy and the Case for Socialist Feminism was a collection of essays assembled and anthologized by Zillah R. Eisenstein in 1978.
Sociologist and Academic Rhonda F. Levine cites Eisenstein's work as a "superb discussion of the socialist-feminist position" in her anthology Enriching the Sociological Imagination: How Radical Sociology Changed the Discipline. Levine goes on to describe the book as " one of the earliest statements of how a Marxist class analysis
can combine with a feminist analysis of patriarchy
to produce a theory of how gender and class intersect as systems of inequality."
"Eisenstein defines the term 'capitalist patriarchy' as descriptive of the 'mutually reinforcing dialectical relationship between capitalist class structure and hierarchical sexual structuring"
She believes that "The recognition of women as a sexual class lays the subversive quality of feminism for liberalism
because liberalism is premised upon women's exclusion from public life on this very class basis. The demand for real equality of women with men, if taken to its logical conclusion, would dislodge the patriarchal structure necessary to a liberal society."
The Combahee River Collective Statement, a well known milestone in the development of Identity Politics
had its initial publication in the anthology.
Sociologist and Academic Rhonda F. Levine cites Eisenstein's work as a "superb discussion of the socialist-feminist position" in her anthology Enriching the Sociological Imagination: How Radical Sociology Changed the Discipline. Levine goes on to describe the book as " one of the earliest statements of how a Marxist class analysis
Class analysis
Class analysis is research in sociology, politics and economics from the point of view of the stratification of the society into dynamic classes...
can combine with a feminist analysis of patriarchy
Patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which the role of the male as the primary authority figure is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination...
to produce a theory of how gender and class intersect as systems of inequality."
"Eisenstein defines the term 'capitalist patriarchy' as descriptive of the 'mutually reinforcing dialectical relationship between capitalist class structure and hierarchical sexual structuring"
She believes that "The recognition of women as a sexual class lays the subversive quality of feminism for liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
because liberalism is premised upon women's exclusion from public life on this very class basis. The demand for real equality of women with men, if taken to its logical conclusion, would dislodge the patriarchal structure necessary to a liberal society."
The Combahee River Collective Statement, a well known milestone in the development of Identity Politics
Identity politics
Identity politics are political arguments that focus upon the self interest and perspectives of self-identified social interest groups and ways in which people's politics may be shaped by aspects of their identity through race, class, religion, sexual orientation or traditional dominance...
had its initial publication in the anthology.