The Marxist Feminism and Women in the Labour Market

This essay explores the Marxist feminist theory and its impact on women in the labour market. It discusses the barriers and improvements in women's participation in the workforce, including work-life balance, access to education and training, and the importance of promoting women's empowerment. The essay also provides examples of Marxist feminist theory and changes in Marxist theory over time.

Running head: ESSAY 0
theories of social
The Marxist feminism and women in the labour market
JUNE 11, 2018
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ESSAY 1
Introduction of Marxist feminist theory-
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.
Examples of Marxist feminist theory-
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.

ESSAY 2
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).
Changes in Marxist theory over the time-
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).
Status of women in labour market-
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,

ESSAY 3
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).
Marxist theory of women’s position in labour market-
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).
Impact of women’s position in the labour market-
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

ESSAY 4
enter into the labour market, the economic independency and developing the living way are
considered as key elements (Connell, 2014).
Views on women employment-
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.
Barriers in the women’s participation in work-
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

ESSAY 5
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)
Improvement in women’s participation in the 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).

ESSAY 6
Objectives to encourage the women’s participation in labour market-
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).
Work-life balance-
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).

ESSAY 7
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).
Importance of work life balance in women’s lives-
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).

ESSAY 8
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).
Access to education and training-
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).
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.

ESSAY 9
Reference
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Routledge, Oxford.

ESSAY 10
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