GSSS GROUP ASSIGNMENT
Group 1 QUESTION.
Using examples show how Marxist Feminist
ideas can be used to explain gender inequlities
in any country of your choice
THE MARXIST FEMINISM THEORY
The Marxist Feminist Theory Postulates that capitalism ideologies
marginalize the interests of women. It posits that individual
ownership of property and the relegation of women to non profit or
income generating domestic work are the root causes of gender
inequalities. Furthermore, it perceives the reproductive system of
women as a setback for the emancipation of women. The Marxist
Feminist Theory advocates for the dismantling of the suppressive
capitalism ideologies and allow women to be involved in all aspects
of human social and economic endeavors. According to Marx (1990),
alienation of women by the capitalist economic system is the root
cause of gender inequalities.
GENDER INEQUALITIES IN ZIMBABWE.
• The issue of gender inequalities in Zimbabwe is viral, women are marginalized in socioeconomic essentials.
• Lack of equal employment opportunities
• Women are exposed to non profit making labour such as looking after the children and domestic chores.
• Decision making reserved for men, both economic and social.
• Women do the reproduction and socialization of the male child, and the child will grow and take up
lucrative socioeconomic positions disadvantaging and discriminating the female population in the
prprocess.
• Gender inequalities aggravate domestic violence.
• Unemployed women are more vulnerable than the formally employed.
GENDER INEQUALITIES AGGRAVATE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
• Men are the bread winners and it is not always easy at work places and financial endeavors. Work place
stress and financial instability depression are common things among the working class men. This results
in aggression which is usually offloaded on women at home. In most cases of abuse , women are
physically and emotionally abused at home for no apparent reason. A husband’s economic failure can
bring nightmares at home and the women are always at the receiving end.
LACK OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES.
• The capitalist economic system in Zimbabwe allow individuals to own vast resources and big cooperations. According to
the Marxist Feminist Theory, the individual ownership of property marginalize women. In most cases companies prefer to
employ men than women. For example, the morning industry is very lucrative in Zimbabwe, Ngezi Platinum is owned by
individuals and approximately 97% of the workers are men. It means that it’s only the individual ownership and the male
workers who benefits from this mining venture. If the company was a public company with community share for
all ,women will have a share in both the production and profits. This explains the Marxist Feminist Theory which perceive
that resources must be owned by the people women included. If a community has shares in a mining venture both
women and men will benefit from the profits of the community mining shares. Thus women will be self-sufficient and be
bread winners witin their societies.
• Brown (2014), states that the Marxist Feminism seeks to address the marginalization of women and to employ the
significance of women within socioeconomic parameters.For instance,single mothers and widows have a big
disadvantage caused by unequal employment opportunities and distribution of resources. The capitalist economic system
does not address the plight of these two groups. But if the people own the means of production and ionources everyone
will benefit including the single mothers and widows because they be equal representation and opportunities.
WOMEN ARE EXPOSED TO NON PROFIT
MAKING LABOUR
• Women are regarded as non profit making domestic workers and men are viewed as bread winners. In
both rural and urban settlements in Zimbabwe, women are the backbone of the family duties pertaining
to issues of house chores. It is deplorable, because some women who are qualified can not go to work
because the spouses have the alienation orientation which disregard the fundamental freedom and
rights for women. Gemenez (2005), argued that society socialize women to be under male dominance.
This element of gender inequities deprive women the right to exercise their expertise and earn a living.
The house chores which is done by women have no remuneration.
• For example, a wife who is not formally employed spent the whole day doing house chores at home.
Cleaning, washing and cooking and she doesn’t get any remuneration for her labour. Contrarily, the
husband goes to remunerated labour where he gets profit for his labour. Therefore, women mst be
given equal opportunities in remuneration labour. The Marxist Feminism advocates for the the
disbandment of alienation and exploitation of women.
DECISION MAKING RESERVED FOR MEN
BOTH IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
ENDEAVORS.
• The Marxist Feminism postulates that women have no economic and social power pertaining to
decision making. This can be related to the situation in Zimbabwe. It is very rare for women to partake
in decision making protocols, and the root cause is unequal employment opportunities. Mojab (2015),
states that women are oppressed socioeconomically. Women have little say in economic decisions, they
are just followers of an already existing manifestation which is rooted in male dominance.
• At family level women are victims suppressive male influence in decision making in socioeconomic
matters at family level. This is exacerbated by the notion that men are the bread winners and have an
upper hand in controlling the use of money at family level. Also women are prone to listening to all the
decisions made by men because of lack of financial independence and self sufficiency. If women are
economically empowered they will be able to advocate for the right to make decisions at family level
and they will not be coerced to accept oppressive male dominance. For instance, some women are
forced to ascribe to polygamy because of financial insecurity and dependency on men. If women has
financial insecurity she is vulnerable in many ways.
REPRODUCTION AND SOCIALIZATION
DONE BY WOMEN AT THEIR EXPENSE.
• Reproduction of the workforce is done by women, they also have the duty of socialization of children
while the men are at work. The family level socialization in Zimbabwe is done by women because they
spend a lot of time at home caring for children. The Marxist Feminism posits that women must be paid
for caring for the children at home and for all the house chores. The element of lobola depicts women
as objects that are sold to save a purpose within a marriage set-up. The conservative family orientation
disadvantage women through submission to male superiority.
UNEMPLOYED WOMEN ARE MORE
VULNERABLE THAN THE EMPLOYED
• The Marxist Feminism stipulates than unemployed women are more vulnerable than the employed.
Financial independence puts the women at an equal socioeconomic level with men. Vogel (1983),
argued that women are always disadvantaged.Women who are financially independent in Zimbabwe
have economic and social power and their rights are not infringed on. Thus the advocation of equal
socioeconomic opportunities in Zimbabwe will empower women and give them a voice to represent
and articulate the social status of the vulnerable girl child.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MARXIST
FEMINIST THEORY
• The Marxist Feminist theory does not address individual problems, people are unique in many ways and
have unique problems. Also the marginalization of women at family level have always been there before
the adoption of the capitalist economic system, therefore one can argue that the male dominance at
family level and economic systems is rooted in traditional patriarchal orientation.
CONCLUSION
• In conclusion, the Marxist Feminist theory address the oppressive capitalist economic system that puts
women on the disadvantage in matters pertaining to socioeconomic equality. Women are vulnerable in
many ways, in Zimbabwe they are exploited through domestic labour which is not remunerated. The
Marxist Feminist theory posits that women must advocate for equal employment opportunities and
fight for their fundamental freedoms and rights both social and economic. It further stipulates the
deplorable domestic violence level which is rooted in male dominance and lack of financial
independence amongst women. This have a close relationship with the situation in Zimbabwe, women
are marginalized and victimized because of gender inequalities in the country. The best way to address
the gender inequalities is through education, inclusiveness and equal distribution of opportunities
across all genders.
REFERENCES
• Marx, K. ( 1990). Capital. Penguin: Harmonyworth
• Vogel,L.(1983). Marxism and the oppression of women. Towards a unitary theory. Pluto press: London
• .Mojab, S. (ed). (2015).Marxism and Feminism. Zed Books:London.
• Gimenez,M.,E. (2005). “Capitalism and the Oppression of Women: Marx Revisited.”Science and Society
69, 1:11-32.
• Brown,J. (2014). Feminism.Philosophy: Global.
GROUP MEMBERS
• (1). Shine Nyachoto R213601M
• 2) Vellina Dube R211032P.
• 3) Nyasha M Kumbula R215233M
• 4) Sally P Guchu R2012636M
• 5) Tatenda Mazo R218937M
• 6)Esnath July R202125A
• 7)Brenda Madzokere R218016X
• 8)Norster Chiora R212870X
• 9) Tinotenda Machakwa R216306F
• 10)Zakaria Murira r217867g
• 11)Panashe Mangezi R202551A
