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Christin Rosado Assignment 04: Feminism and Marxism

Exploitation is a form of manipulation, where a person or group is used to carry out certain tasks that benefit another; while the person or group is not properly compensated for their work. Throughout history, there have been various instances of exploitation such as slavery, child labor, unfair wages, etc. Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Frederici examines the mistreatment of women between the 14th and 19th centuries. In my essay I will discuss the exploitation of women as a method to increase the accumulation of wealth in a capitalist political society. My essay consists findings from Caliban and the Witch.

Beginning in the 14th century, women were slowly being pushed out of the workforce. Those who were a part of the workforce, were paid less than men and received extremely low wages for their work. The refusal of work towards women resulted in widespread poverty. Women did not possess the monetary funds to support themselves and their families; causing the deaths of many children due to starvation. Some women did reproductive labor in their home. However, the state did not view this as work, but as a natural responsibility; as a result, their labor was devalued (Federici, 2004). During this time, a large amount of women became prostitutes as a way to support their families. The exclusion of women from the workforce was demoralizing, because they were forced to do drastic deeds in order to survive and they were viewed as not worthy of work. The reproductive labor that women did at home was unacknowledged. However, placing women in the household was the foundation needed for the process of economic growth to begin.

During the 16th and 17th centuries Europe was experiencing a critical population crisis because of disease that claimed the lives of many. The region’s population was decreasing drastically which caused major concern within the government. During this time period the number of people a country had was associated with wealth; less citizens meant less wealth and more citizens meant more prosperity (Federici, 2004). This assumption led to the European government making a decision to increase their involvement in the lives of their female citizens. Great importance was placed on women and their reproductive capacities because their children symbolized a growth in the workforce and in the economy. Women lost control of their body and their ability to choose whether or not they wanted children. Contraception and abortion were heavily frowned upon and any women suspected of attempting to terminate or prevent a pregnancy were punished severely; sometimes resulting in death (Federici, 2004). Women were turned into child making factories for the sole purpose of accumulating wealth for the economy by giving birth to new workers. The government dictated who had children and when it was convenient for women to have them; thus turning their wombs into property (Federici, 2004).

Sexual division was prevalent in the 19th century. During this time, a women’s role was to be a full time housewife caring not only for her children, but most importantly for her husband. At home, women did reproductive labor and would frequently aid their husbands with their work. Women were not paid for assisting their husband or at home labor. This was another form of exploitation. These women were helping their husbands to produce, which in turn helped the economy; yet they were not paid or acknowledged for their work. Many women relied heavily on the income of their husbands because they themselves could not work; and whatever work they did at home had no importance to society. Through this, the government was able to further influence women by forcing them to be under the control of their husbands (Federici, 2004). Around this time, women who were single were frowned upon and their image was destroyed. Those unmarried were labeled as non-conformist. A woman working at home was a woman helping her husband to produce for the economy and her sacrifices were overlooked but her work was beneficial to the state.

Exploitation is a form of manipulation, where a person or group is used to carry out certain tasks that benefit another; while the person or group is not properly compensated for their work. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, women faced severe exploitation by the government with the intention of boosting the economy. In the 14th century women were losing their jobs and faced exclusion from the workforce; resulting in many participating in reproductive labor at home which helped the economy. During the 15th and 16 centuries the government used female reproductive capabilities as a method to increase the population in order to gain more workers which would in turn help with economic productivity. In the 19th century the work that women did as full time housewives greatly helped the economy, but was not rewarded. Women were being exploited; their bodies were controlled by the government. They were denied the right to work, which led to an increase in prostitution and poverty. Whatever work they did do was overlooked. An economy thrived at the expense of women’s rights, integrity, and their lives.

Federici, S. (2004). Caliban and the Witch. 61-133.