[Translation] Women Workers at the Heart of Social Reproduction Struggles: Theoretical Debates and Political Battles

Published

1 December 2023

Issue

Volume 1 – Number 12

How to cite

Paula Varela

DOI

ABSTRACT

This article proposes a reflection on social reproduction struggles under neoliberalism from the point of view of Social Reproduction Theory. I divide the article into three parts. The first defines Social Reproduction Theory as a critical theory of capitalism that focuses on the contradictions inscribed in the reproduction of the labour power under capitalism. The second part addresses what we mean by social reproduction struggles, distinguishing three types of social reproduction struggles that allow us to highlight the strategic position occupied by women workers, who guarantee life. The third part proposes a reflection on social reproduction struggles as a space of articulation between the powerful women’s movement (and other social movements) and the labour movement, where we could democratically debate our right (as a life-work class) to settle the conditions of our social reproduction.

KEYWORDS

Working class struggles, Women workers, New feminist wave, Social reproduction Marxism