Friedrich Engels (1820 - 1895) - Marriage and Property: Excerpts from The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State published in German in the 1880's and in English in 1902.
Pick one of the three topics A, B, or C below or another of your choice to prepare for class.
1. Briefly describe and evaluate Engels' views on the topic or questions at issue.
2. List the presupposition(s) which underlie his views.
3. Describe one strength and one weakness of Engels' views.
Topics for Discussion
A. Engels’ views on the relations of the family, paternity, and property from the beginning of "civilized" marriage. The origin of the double-standard.
B. How does capitalism restrict marriage according to Engels? How will communism change love and marriage in Engels’ view? In what ways would the situation of women improve under communism according to Engels?
C. Economics and class as keys to Engels' views on the origin and development of marriage.
If you would like to learn more about late Twentieth Century Marxist/Socialist Feminism the following are some key essays.
Heidi Hartmann, "The Family as the Locus of Gender, Class, and Political Struggle: The Example of Housework," in Feminism and Methodology, edited by Sandra Harding, pp. 109-134 and in Tuana and Tong, pp. 104-128
Heidi Hartmann, "The Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism: Towards a More Progressive Union," in Women and Revolution: A Discussion of the Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism, edited by Lydia Sargent, Boston: South End, 1981.
Nancy C. M. Hartsock, "The Feminist Standpoint: Developing the Ground for a Specifically Feminist Historical Materialism," in Feminism and Methodology, edited by Sandra Harding, pp. 157-180 and in Tuana and Tong, pp. 69-90. [Marxist epistemology deployed]
Mary O’Brien, "Reproducing Marxist Man," in Tuana and Tong, pp. 91-103.
Gail Rubin, "The Traffic in Women: Notes on the 'Political Economy' of Sex," in Toward an Anthropology of Women. edited by Rayna Reiter. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1975, pp. 157-210.