Social Reproduction

Social Reproduction:
Gender, Race and Care under Capitalism

In the writings of Marx, the term 'social
reproduction' refers to the ways that the
capitalist system reproduces
itself as a whole. In this class, we will consider
a rich body of literature that departs from a
framework that
understands the realm of labor and commodities as
the primary arena where the economy reproduces
itself. In
complex and diverse ways, theories of social
reproduction look towards race, gender, sexuality
as well as the
domestic and leisure spheres as fundamental sites
that produce the granular, lived experience and as
such,
create the conditions for the ongoing reproduction
of the global economic system. Beginning with
feminist and
anti-colonial critiques of traditional Marxism,
the course will include readings and analysis to
consider how
childcare, healthcare, education, family life and
the roles of gender, race and sexuality constitute
forms of life
under capitalism. Students will write short weekly
reflection pieces and complete a substantial
research project.