A Study Of Western Marxist Feminist Theory

Women’s issue is one of the most basic and important topics along with the history of human beings survival and development. It’s not just the problem of political or economic life, but a comprehensive social problem, so that the world organization for women’s rights pay high attention to this problem, what is more, it is what human beings must take into account if we want to live harmonious and sustainable life. Women’s issues cover a wide field, where women struggle for holding equal rights with men in education, politics, economic and culture etc.Western Marxism Feminism Theory combines Marxism theory with western feminism theory. It analyses and reveals the root cause why the women are traditionally in oppressed status with the theory of Marxism historical materialism, and even make a further theoretical analysis and criticism on the base of accepting the idea that economic element is the cause of women’s oppression raised by Marx and Engels. Western Marxism Feminism Theory was born in a battle where western feminism fight for human rights, and gradually grew up through continuous criticism and self-criticism with other western feminism schools. Western Marxism Feminism Theory places sincere concern on women from the social reality’s perspective, and deeply analyze why the women are under oppression and how to realize women’s liberation based on women’s unique gender perspective, indicating that capitalism and patriarchy is the root of women’s oppression subordinate position and that women must be out of family to get engaged in social labor to get liberation.Four parts are included in this article:Part Ⅰ:Make a brief overview for the basic information of Western Marxism Feminism Theory, including the origin of western feminism and general profile of the main schools, stressing on the origin of Western Marxism Feminism Theory, the main idea of the representatives and even the development status in contemporary society.Part Ⅱ:Stressing on the main content of Western Marxism Feminism Theory, including the issues of women’s oppression root cause and women’s liberation. Three typical analyzing theories are inferred as to the root of women’s oppression:binary system theory of capitalist regime and patriarchy, single system theory of capitalist regime and patriarchy and Woman’s own alienation theory. Therefore three corresponding approaches for women’s liberation come along: to overthrow patriarchy and capitalist, to socialize house-work, to improve women’s consciousness, etc.Part Ⅲ:A brief introduction of Western Marxism Feminism Theory’s criticism and self-criticism with other feminism theory, i.e. women’s theory represented by Marx and Engels, liberal feminist theory, and radical feminist theory.Part IV:Making a tentative summary of Western Marxism Feminism Theory’s contemporary value, emphasizing Western Marxism Feminism Theory’s influence on western feminist movements, and its contributions to solving contemporary Chinese women’s rights.