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Sexism and the System
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64 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 9, 2012
This is a really short, little book about the principles of Marxist-Feminism produced in such a way that the concept is neither dry nor alienating. Essentially, it describes the current situation in the developed world where woman are expected to provide the majority of childcare within the relationship, the lacking social support from the state for childcare and maternity pay and the sexism inherant in our everyday interactions.
Being written from the Marxist-Feminist point of view, the struggle against the class system is linked with the struggle for sexual equality and the book takes the time to explain the problems that occur for women at both ends of the social class spectrum.
It's short, with the chapters being only a few hundred words long, but it does what many other introductory feminist texts fail to do: it provides us with an oversight, encourages questions and makes some suggestions about things we can do to improve the situation for ourselves. I feel not enough feminists texts do this, and a lot of them end with vague overtones of a continuing struggle and self-congratulatory segments about how great conscious-raising is. This book is good because it highlights those personal victories: wage improvements etc. that we can do for ourselves and also points out how the gender binary and the social construct of masculinity is oppressive for men.
I highly recommend this as an introduction to (Marxist) Feminist writing, but also as a useful book for those of us feminists who want something refreshing.
Being written from the Marxist-Feminist point of view, the struggle against the class system is linked with the struggle for sexual equality and the book takes the time to explain the problems that occur for women at both ends of the social class spectrum.
It's short, with the chapters being only a few hundred words long, but it does what many other introductory feminist texts fail to do: it provides us with an oversight, encourages questions and makes some suggestions about things we can do to improve the situation for ourselves. I feel not enough feminists texts do this, and a lot of them end with vague overtones of a continuing struggle and self-congratulatory segments about how great conscious-raising is. This book is good because it highlights those personal victories: wage improvements etc. that we can do for ourselves and also points out how the gender binary and the social construct of masculinity is oppressive for men.
I highly recommend this as an introduction to (Marxist) Feminist writing, but also as a useful book for those of us feminists who want something refreshing.
June 5, 2017
She didnt get what feminism means though and spoke about it very much simplificantly and distortedly. But other than that part it was really great, and could be considered feminist publication, if you switch the word socialist for feminist, she speaks about some of the same issues
April 9, 2026
This excellent little booklet outlines the continuing fight against sexism in today’s society and shows how that fight is inextricably linked to the struggle against capitalism.
The author is a Marxist, and there has been a lot of debate about the relationship between Marxism, feminism and the struggle for women’s liberation. Some feminists claim that by focusing primarily on class conflict, Marxists do not take the fight for women’s equality seriously enough. Judith Orr shows that this is not the case.
Marxists agree with all the various types of feminists that women are oppressed, and they have an excellent record of fighting alongside these feminists in campaigns against the various manifestations of sexism and women’s oppression. But when it comes to understanding what CAUSES women’s oppression and what is the best way to END this oppression, Marxists have a distinctive position, which is outlined in this book.
Now what about this word “feminism”? Are Marxists like Judith Orr “feminists”? The problem is that different people use the word to mean different things. If you are just using the word “feminist” to mean a person who fights for equality for women, then Marxists are by definition feminists.
However, the word is usually associated with some form of “patriarchy theory”. Patriarchy does not just mean sexism and women’s oppression; it means “rule by men” or “male power”. The problem with this is that it tends to lead to the conclusion that all men are the problem and that all women, whatever their class, should unite to fight against male power.
But society is not ruled by all men. It is ruled by the capitalist class. Orr shows that it is capitalism, not the whole male sex, which benefits from the oppression of women. Indeed gender inequalities have always been linked to class divisions, ever since the rise of class societies.
Working class women have nothing in common with ruling class women. Ruling class women suffer from sexism, of course, but with their nannies and cleaners they do not face the “double burden” that working class women face. In fact ruling class women are involved in the exploitation of working class women (and working class men). They are not the “sisters” of working class women.
Orr shows that we need to fight sexism in the here and now, but also that the only way to end all types of oppression for good is for the working class – women and men – to unite in struggle and get rid of capitalism.
One final point needs to be made. Some feminists dismiss Marxism because the oppression of women continued in the so-called “communist” countries such as China and the former USSR. But these regimes are/were actually bureaucratic state capitalist tyrannies, not socialist or communist in the genuine sense. Orr mentions the fantastic steps towards women’s liberation that were taken following the Russian Revolution of 1917, but she also shows that these gains did not survive Stalin’s counter-revolution in the 1920s.
The author, Judith Orr, is a leading member of the Socialist Workers’ Party (Britain). She is the editor of the SWP’s weekly newspaper, Socialist Worker.
The author is a Marxist, and there has been a lot of debate about the relationship between Marxism, feminism and the struggle for women’s liberation. Some feminists claim that by focusing primarily on class conflict, Marxists do not take the fight for women’s equality seriously enough. Judith Orr shows that this is not the case.
Marxists agree with all the various types of feminists that women are oppressed, and they have an excellent record of fighting alongside these feminists in campaigns against the various manifestations of sexism and women’s oppression. But when it comes to understanding what CAUSES women’s oppression and what is the best way to END this oppression, Marxists have a distinctive position, which is outlined in this book.
Now what about this word “feminism”? Are Marxists like Judith Orr “feminists”? The problem is that different people use the word to mean different things. If you are just using the word “feminist” to mean a person who fights for equality for women, then Marxists are by definition feminists.
However, the word is usually associated with some form of “patriarchy theory”. Patriarchy does not just mean sexism and women’s oppression; it means “rule by men” or “male power”. The problem with this is that it tends to lead to the conclusion that all men are the problem and that all women, whatever their class, should unite to fight against male power.
But society is not ruled by all men. It is ruled by the capitalist class. Orr shows that it is capitalism, not the whole male sex, which benefits from the oppression of women. Indeed gender inequalities have always been linked to class divisions, ever since the rise of class societies.
Working class women have nothing in common with ruling class women. Ruling class women suffer from sexism, of course, but with their nannies and cleaners they do not face the “double burden” that working class women face. In fact ruling class women are involved in the exploitation of working class women (and working class men). They are not the “sisters” of working class women.
Orr shows that we need to fight sexism in the here and now, but also that the only way to end all types of oppression for good is for the working class – women and men – to unite in struggle and get rid of capitalism.
One final point needs to be made. Some feminists dismiss Marxism because the oppression of women continued in the so-called “communist” countries such as China and the former USSR. But these regimes are/were actually bureaucratic state capitalist tyrannies, not socialist or communist in the genuine sense. Orr mentions the fantastic steps towards women’s liberation that were taken following the Russian Revolution of 1917, but she also shows that these gains did not survive Stalin’s counter-revolution in the 1920s.
The author, Judith Orr, is a leading member of the Socialist Workers’ Party (Britain). She is the editor of the SWP’s weekly newspaper, Socialist Worker.
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January 30, 2025great as an introduction to marxist feminism! short and very accessible
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December 17, 2013its all about women's operation in society.the best book
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews