Introduction of Marxist feminist theory
Discuss about the Marxist Feminism And Women In The Labour Market.
Essentially Marxist feminism pools Marxist and Feminist theory. Marxist feminism is a sub type of feminist philosophy which describes and investigates the methods in which females are opposed by the capitalism and secretive property. It means feminism considers as political or common measures concerned with various rights of the females. It also point outs the right to vote of females in the political election. It states the financial inequality and unhealthy relationship between males and females. It describes the role of capitalism in female’s oppression.
Marxist feminism is the similar as socialist feminism and the materialist feminism. Marxist feminism theory explains the way of capitalism to use the family oppresses women. Generally, males are more to take part in the labour market in comparison of the females. From the last century, the females are increasing in the labour market. When time and cost of unpaid care work is decreased, the participation of females will be increased more. The Marxist feminists recognise that how women’s work forms their position and self-respect. The Marxist feminist theory is mainly concerned with worker’s division that keeps females in the domestic range of the family and males in the workplace.
There are some examples of Marxist feminist theory in respect of the problems facing by the females. The question of issues facing by the working females may be raise the awareness of the working people by giving the example of female’s oppression in the capitalism and the necessity of Marxism to combat this. The Marxist use the scope of the harmony of the working class in the work place and necessity to advance struggle for the Marxism.
The Marxist feminist theory outlines the all oppression experienced by different working class. For an example, the cruelty experienced by black working females is something different by gay white males, it is again dissimilar to the practice of straight incapacitated person (Preston, 2018).
As per the view of Marx, each level formed a new class or creation. It would lead to its breakdown. This breakdown will not be automatically negative event, since with each step civilization would get advantage. The standard of living of masses would raise at each stage and at the same be ruined because of breakdown. The last two levels are to evade this chance. At stage five and six, oppressive class is defeated and society is put under the autocracy. The first three levels are not given specific consideration from the time of Marx. The Marx does not give the principles of levels as Marx does for capitalism at stage four and following stages (Bonoli, 2017).
Examples of Marxist feminist theory
It is highly stated by majority of respondent that the work atmosphere is friendly for the females. Rules related to the safety of pregnant lady and security against sexual harassment and the separate washroom in workplace is the good example of it. In top administrative levels the ratio of women is less than ratio of men. The two third of the respondents have strong reasons to believe that there are similar opportunities for the development of males and females both in workplace. On the other hand, fifty five percent of respondents strongly supposed that in respect of the job work and salary females faced bad deal than males (Mayor, 2018).
In every economy, differences of wages between male and female by the employment are exist but reasons and scale are the subject to change. Some organisations like trade unions, organisation of women and organisation of employers give equal opportunity to the men and women at the job work. The twenty percent respondents thought that trade unions play key role in providing the same opportunities to men and women. On the other hand this is just 14% in organisation of employer (Chrisman and Williams, 2015).
The Marxist feminist theory describes that main load of the oppression always falls on the females in the society. It helps to understand the position of females in the labour market. Marxists are required to fight against the inequality and injustice in the society, whereas founding over selves in the working class which may lead society out of this lane. Inequality and injustice against the working females in the society should be criticised. The Marxists are required to give support to motivate the females to take participation in the labour market. The working females should have equal rights and same responsibilities.
The very first duty of Marxist is that they should organise the females in the working place to take participation in the labour market. Marxists must take cause of females, taking steps against the injustice, judgement and gender inequality. It is important that Marxists understand the innovative potential of females and make efforts to tap into it. For the Marxist it is important that working people learn through the struggle (Spivak and Harasym, 2014).
The position of women in the employment has implications not only in respect of the salary but also in respect of the productivity and the financial performance. Productivity is considered as major factor of the economic growth. It is measure to identify the effective economic resources. Wedding and maternity has adverse impact on contribution of women in the labour market. The effect is higher for female with less than education. When women enter into the labour market, the economic independency and developing the living way are considered as key elements (Connell, 2014).
Changes in Marxist theory over the time
This is strongly believed by the two third respondents that the women face the difficulties and challenges at the work place in the comparison of the man. The men do not face such difficulties or challenges at work place. According to survey, it is found that 80% respondents thought that the family responsibilities of the female obstruct the chances of their development and future. 52% respondents supposed that male employees are partial towards the opportunities of female employees at the work place. 60% of them disagreed with the opinion that it is not easy for the females to make relevant decisions and handle the typical situations. 49% of them strongly supposed that the allowed parental leave with pay and long maternity leave prevent the women to take participation in the top administrative level of the job work (Rabinowitz and Richlin, 2014). It would discourage the women to work for the long period.
The women around the world face general obstacles and defeats at the job work. It is found in the survey that the females are understated in the management level of the business. The main problem is that society thinks that females are responsible only for family, domestic work and nurture. It is a thinking of people that female take care and male take charge. But powerful women in our society have denied this fact from going against the ordinary order of work. This is also a barrier for women to make balance between job work and personal life.
There are many organisations in which only few females are appointed to the top level of the company or as a board of directors (BOD) of the company. Some people made excuses that females give importance to the personal interest rather than the professional interest. The women are not interested to build their career. Some companies have clear bias against the gender. At the time of recruitment, organisation prefers to appoint the males employees at the job work. The organisations do not prefer the females at job work.
It is saying by the people that it is better for women to marry rather than job. The women have pressure from their family and the relatives. They have less opportunity for the development and career. After being mother, women prefer to stay at home. Their progress can be stopped. The other problem is husband’s refusal for the job. Other barriers for the participation of women are less working hours at the work place, tough working hour and duties in respect of the education of children (Luke and Gore, 2014)
Status of women in labour market
89% of respondents made a preparation for the childcare to be important to most important measure (Gottesman, 2016). The establishment of same opportunity for the development, future growth and career is the best measure to improve the women’s participation in the job work. The help by the husbands in work of home and concept of work from home were categorised next. Furthermore, provision of the state assistance to women for starting up a business and increment in wages are ranked. The response to the measures is categorised as not at all important, slightly important, important, rather important and very important (Hennessy, 2017).
In promoting the women’s empowerment, gender dimension is focused. The main point to be focused is role of women in development and need for women’s participation in making decision for the development. It is required to give social protection to the women. It is also required to eliminate the traditional obstacles to the development (Baylis, Steve and Owens, 2017).
The directions for equality between male and female and the empowerment of women are clearly stated at national level. The key purpose is to recognise the strategies which can change the surroundings to make possible the realization of participation of female in their growth. The main objectives to encourage the women’s participation in the labour market are to increase the self-confidence in women, provide them employment, make them self-independent and remove the gender inequality. The women’s participation in the labour market should be encouraged so that their social status and financial status can be improved. The participation of women in the labour market will promote the great women entrepreneurship (Mellor, 2018).
The participation of female in labour force is very essential for the higher growth. It is also important for achieving the social development and general development. The policymaker’s first priority is to make policy in regarding the encouragement for the participation of women in labour force. The measures above discussed highly encourage the female to do more work and give significant boost to the women in the labour market (Sturgeon, 2016).
The work life balance is people having measures of control over when to work, what to work and how to work. It is called to be achieved when right of person in respect to fulfil life inside and the outside is accepted and respected for the exclusive advantages of individual and group. The number of women choosing to work has been increased. The women who participate in labour force never give up their family and the responsibilities. The working women play an important role in handling the responsibilities and managing the perfect work life. It is the biggest challenge for the working women to maintain the balance between work life and personal life. But it is not impossible for the female to maintain balance between personal life and work life (Sarfati, 2017).
Marxist theory of women’s position in labour market
The work life balance is important subject of concern for the women employees. The policies, programmes and benefits program are made such as flexible working hours at work place, substitute work arrangements, policies in respect of leave, policies in respect of the maternity leaves, policies in respect of parental leaves, benefits in respect of family care duty, worker assistance programme, policy in respect of the compensation. These policies, programmes and benefit programmes are called family friendly policies (FFPs). They are also known as work life benefits and practices (WLBPs). It is all about the choice of location of job and suitable time or shift of the job. This kind of flexible working is not only considered as realistic change. The concept of part time working is also the effective initiative to make balance between work life and personal life (Burck, 2018).
In present, women are facing many difficulties in respect of the work at the work place. The challenges are made to the women to do work as full time job. There are so many duties, responsibilities to be performed by the working women at office. It is conducted as per the survey that there are so many women who work for 40 to 45 hours in a week in the office. One half of the respondents supposed that women are doing struggle in making balance between the personal life and the work life (Marks, 2017).
The women believe that they have many responsibilities to perform at the work place. They have many meetings schedules to conduct the meetings with boss or clients or customers. Sometimes the women do business trip to represent the company and make a deal with customers. On the other hand, the women have many family responsibilities. The women make balance between work life and own life. The successful work life balance creates the satisfied workforce which leads to the productivity. This work life balance also makes contribution in the success in the work place (Wooden, 2015).
For the effective work life balance, many benefits are provided to the women such as life insurance policy, hospitalization insurance policy, business traveller medical plan, group term life insurance, maternity insurance for the working women and the medical plan (Pini, 2017).
Education is very important factor for the women. This is the fundamental human right of girl to education. The women are necessarily required to be educated to attain the gender equality and remove the partiality against them. Education is requires for the girls or women to become leaders of the change. The educated women give the benefit the entire society. The educated women make the contribution in the greater economy of the nation. The educated women also help their family in respect of the health, nutrition and knowledge. The educated women can secure the good job and better life (Li, Mahuteau and Dockery, 2017).
Impact of women’s position in the labour market
The gender inequality affects the career of women in the various ways. If the girls or women will take education then it can avoid the many difficulties such as sexual harassment. Education is right and good for the better future of women. It is also required to give the training to the girls or women in advance (McRobbie, 2018).
Conclusion
As per the above analyses it is cleared that Marxist theory has generated a rich custom of the literacy and cultural criticism. The women play an important role in the labour force. From the past time, women are taking participation in the labour market. The females are required to make balance the work life. The women also maintain the personal life. So it is the big challenge for the women. There are many policies, programmes and benefit programmes are formulated in respect of the advancement of the women in work place.
References
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