Using At Least Two Academic Sources Besides Our Text ✓ Solved

Using at least two academic sources in addition to our text, compare and contrast Gilman’s theory as to the oppression of women in patriarchy with Marx’s theory as to how and why workers are oppressed under capitalism.

This essay explores the theories of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Karl Marx regarding oppression in their respective contexts—Gilman’s analysis of women’s oppression within patriarchy and Marx’s critique of worker exploitation under capitalism. By comparing and contrasting these perspectives, the essay aims to identify commonalities and divergences in their explanations of societal oppression, highlighting how each thinker contextualizes power structures and social stratification.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935), a prominent feminist and social reformer, advanced a theory of gender stratification rooted in economic and social structures. In her work Women and Economics (Gilman, 1898), she argues that women’s subjugation is a consequence of societal arrangements that restrict their economic independence and reinforce traditional gender roles. Gilman contends that patriarchy is maintained through societal institutions, family structures, and cultural norms that uphold gender hierarchies, ultimately marginalizing women and limiting their opportunities for autonomy and self-realization. She emphasizes the importance of economic independence and social reform in dismantling gender-based oppression, advocating for women’s participation in the workforce and institutional reforms that promote gender equality.

In contrast, Karl Marx (1818-1883) offers a materialist critique of capitalism, asserting that the economic system is inherently exploitative. In his seminal works such as Das Kapital, Marx argues that capitalism’s foundation lies in the bourgeoisie’s ownership of the means of production, which enables them to extract surplus value from the proletariat—workers who sell their labor. Marx views class struggle as the central dynamic of societal change, with workers being oppressed through economic exploitation, alienation, and lack of control over their labor and lives. The capitalist mode of production creates and perpetuates social inequalities, which Marx sees as structurally embedded in the economic system itself.

The comparison reveals that both Gilman and Marx analyze social oppression as rooted in structural economic conditions—Gilman focuses on gendered economic relations within families and society, while Marx concentrates on class-based exploitation within the capitalist economy. Both theorists highlight the role of societal institutions—Gilman emphasizes family and cultural norms; Marx emphasizes the economic system—in perpetuating oppression. They also underscore the importance of societal change: Gilman advocates for gender-specific reforms and economic independence for women; Marx calls for the abolition of capitalism and the establishment of a classless society.

However, differences are notable. Gilman centers her analysis on gender as a primary axis of social inequality, viewing patriarchy as a socio-economic system that sustains women’s subordinate status. Her approach is more reformist, seeking social and economic reforms within existing frameworks to promote gender equality. Conversely, Marx’s critique is fundamentally revolutionary, viewing capitalism itself as a root cause of exploitation and advocating for its complete overthrow. Marx’s emphasis is on class struggle and economic redistribution, whereas Gilman’s focus is on transforming gender relations and social norms to achieve equality.

Furthermore, Gilman emphasizes cultural and social reforms, advocating for changing societal attitudes toward women and their roles. Marx, on the other hand, emphasizes economic restructuring, viewing material conditions as the primary driver of social change. Both acknowledge that societal institutions uphold oppression—Gilman through family and cultural norms, Marx through economic institutions—but they prioritize different levers for societal transformation.

In summary, while Gilman and Marx provide distinct frameworks—gender versus class—to understand oppression, their theories share common ground in identifying systemic structures as the root causes of inequality. They both advocate for societal transformation, albeit through different pathways—Gilman through social reform and gender equality, Marx through revolutionary change and economic redistribution. Their analyses continue to influence contemporary debates on social justice, underscoring the importance of understanding multiple axes of oppression in efforts to create a more equitable society.

References

• Gilman, C. P. (1898). Women and Economics: A Study of the Economic Relations Between Men and Women as a Factor in Social Evolution. Small, Maynard & Co.
• Marx, K. (1867). Das Kapital: A Critique of Political Economy. Penguin Classics, 1992.
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• Collins, P. H. (1990). Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment. Routledge.
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