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.