From a Marxist Feminist Point of View: Essays on Freedom, Rationality and Human Nature

Centred on the idea of a mode of production, the core idea of Marxist theory, this book demonstrates the distinctive contribution that a Marxist and feminist lens can give to the topics of freedom, rationality and human nature. Front Cover ‎Half-Title Page ‎Series Title Page ‎Title Page ‎Copyright Page ‎Contents ‎Acknowledgements ‎Introduction ‎1. Modes of Production ‎2. Rationality ‎3. Freedom ‎4. Human Nature/Women’s Nature ‎Part 1. Modes of Production ‎Chapter 1. Developing Marx’s Mode of Production Theory ‎Chapter 2. Marxist/Socialist Feminist Theory and Practice in the USA Today ‎1. Varieties of Socialist Feminism: One System or Two ‎2. What Is a ‘System?’ ‎3. Intersectionality ‎4. A Framework Model—One Non-reductive System ‎Chapter 3. Sex, Work and Capitalism ‎1. Introduction ‎2. What Is Sex Work? ‎3. Political/Economic Context ‎4. Empowerment vs. Power, Agency and Freedom ‎5. A ‘Work Ethic instead of a Sex Ethic?’ ‎6. Is Sex Special? ‎7. What Is To Be Done? ‎Chapter 4. ‘Women’s Work’, the Family and Capitalism ‎Chapter 5. Democratic Socialism for a Finite World ‎1. ‘Democracy’ ‎2. ‘Socialism’ ‎3. Democracy as the END of Socialism ‎4. Democracy as the MEANS to Socialism ‎5. Why Democratic Socialism Is ECOSOCIALIST ‎6. Why Democratic Socialism Is FEMINIST ‎Part 2. Rationality ‎Chapter 6. Rationality and Revolution ‎Chapter 7. For a Sustainable Future: The Centrality of Public Goods ‎1. Rethinking Property and Rationality: From the Individual to the Collective ‎2. Property ‎3. Rationality ‎4. From Common Sense to Common Practice: Struggles around Public Goods ‎Part 3. Freedom ‎Chapter 8. Free Will and a Marxist Concept of Natural Wants ‎Chapter 9. Against Capitalism as Theory and Reality ‎1. Basic Definitions: ‘Capitalism’ and ‘Women’s Interests’ ‎2. Gender Interests: Strategic and Practical ‎3. Capitalism in Theory: Ideals and Limits ‎3.1. On Property, Ownership, and Freedom ‎3.2. Political Freedom and Democracy ‎3.3. Freedom, Private Property and Self-Ownership ‎3.4. Self-Ownership—History and Import of the Concept ‎3.5. Self-Ownership—the Contemporary Debates ‎3.6. Freedom/Unfreedom in the Abstract ‎3.7. Internal Obstacles ‎3.8. Tests of the Analysis ‎3.9. A More Ideal Capitalism? ‎3.10. In Theory ‎3.11. In History ‎3.12. How Ideal? The Inevitability and Importance of Extreme Inequalities ‎3.13. The Most Basic Inequality ‎3.14. Summing Up Capitalism in Theory ‎4. Capitalism in Reality ‎4.1. Compared to Pre-capitalist Societies ‎4.2. Capitalism as Tendentially Better for Women ‎4.3. With Respect to Practical Gender Interests ‎4.4. Compared to So-called Socialist Societies ‎4.5. Gains and Losses: Sweatshops and Worse ‎4.6. Competitive Market Constraints ‎4.7. Changed Gender Roles in Context ‎4.8. The Global Picture ‎4.9. Human Interests Are Women’s Interests ‎4.10. Constrains on Rationality ‎4.11. Conclusion: What Is the Alternative? And What Should Feminists Do Now? ‎Part 4. Human Nature/Women’s Nature ‎Chapter 10. A Marxist Theory of Women’s Nature ‎Chapter 11. Humankind(s) ‎Chapter 12. Alienation, Freedom and Human Nature ‎Bibliography ‎Index Back Cover