View here a presentation by author Mary Davis introducing the main points in the new edition, updated and revised, of the best-selling Women and Class. Buy it here!
Session 1ReadingQuestions
THE ORIGINS OF WOMEN’S OPPRESSION: THE MARXIST VIEW
| M.Davis | Women & Class pp1-8 |
| F.Engels | The Origin of the Family, Private Property & the State Chap.2 https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1884/origin-family/ch02.htm |
| A. Bebel | https://www.marxists.org/archive/bebel/1879/woman-socialism/ch02.htm |
| C.Zetkin | https://www.marxists.org/archive/zetkin/1896/10/women.htm |
What is biological determinism?
Was Engels a biological determinist?
How & why did the family develop?
Why does women’s oppression coincide with the origin of class society?
Session 2ReadingQuestions
RIVAL THEORIES
Read
| M. Davis | Women & Class pp 9-19 |
| Lisa Vogel |
Watch
What is the main argument against the Marxist view of the origins of women’s oppression?
Which of the rival theories do you find: least convincing / most convincing?
Say why you think ‘self-identity’ is anti-Marxist?
Do you think gender self id is detrimental to women’s liberation?
Session 3ReadingQuestions
THE MARXIST RESPONSE
| M. Davis | Women & Class pp 20-28 |
| The Union Makes us Strong http://www.unionhistory.info/ | |
| M. Davis | Comrade or Brother? |
What is oppression?
How and why is women’s oppression linked to capitalism?
What is ‘super-exploitation’?
What is discrimination and is it the same as oppression?
What is ideology and why and how does it function in relation to women in a capitalist society?
Session 4ReadingQuestions
WOMEN, CLASS, CAPITALISM & THE LABOUR MOVEMENT: HISTORY
| M. Davis | Women & Class pp 29-42 |
| The Union Makes us Strong http://www.unionhistory.info/ | |
| Angela Davis | Women, Race & Class |
| Sally Grove | Trico: A Victory to Remember |
| M. Davis | Comrade or Brother? |
What is job segregation and how did it arise?
What is the ‘family wage’?
Why and how were women excluded from trade unions?
What rights did women fight for in the 19th century?
Why did the women’s suffrage movement split?
Session 5ReadingQuestions
WOMEN, CLASS, CAPITALISM & THE LABOUR MOVEMENT: TODAY
| M. Davis | Women & Class pp 43-54 |
| M. Davis | CP Centenary History; chapter on Women |
| CP Policy on Women & Gender (2018 Congress resolution) | |
What is the gender pay gap and why does it exist and what can we do about it?
Why do so many women work part-time?
What are the challenges to women’s self-organisation in the labour movement today?
Why are black women triply exploited?
Session 6ReadingQuestions
WOMEN & THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY: POLICY &PERSPECTIVES
| Charter for Women & campaigning priorities | |
| M. Davis | Women & Class pp 54-67 |