Marxism and Socialist Feminism

In chapter 3 of Tong’s book, there is a discussion about what Marxism is and how it regards to feminism.  Marxism regards classism rather than sexism as a fundamental cause of women’s oppression.  However, socialist feminists are not certain that classism is a women’s worst or only enemy.  Social feminists believe that patrilineal roles play a major role in women’s oppression and without it; women would be able to experience themselves as a whole.  Marxism has a belief that “Men and women, through production collectively, create a society that, in turn, shapes them.”  I agree with this statement because men and women make a name for themselves in society without the help of anyone else.  However, I disagree because from the beginning women have been given an unfair advantage in regards to shaping themselves because they are constantly being defined by something else.  Both Marxism and Socialist Feminism claim that social existence determines consciousness.  This means that women are constantly being reminded of what they should be and how they should be.  This creates a negative self-conscious of themselves.  I agree that women should be viewed as a collective whole rather than fragmented beings.  This is difficult to instill in a women because we are constantly being pounded down by society.  This creates a feeling of alienation within a woman that makes them feel unaccepted and unappreciated.  The gender gap in the United States is terrible and hits close to home with me.   My mother pounds the pavement with her career and will stop to no end to get what she wants.  My mother now holds the position as the first female to ever be Frederick County manager of finance.  This is an amazing promotion for my mother because she makes twice as much as her male colleagues do.  I love the fact that I know a woman who has embraced the gender gap and didn’t let it defeat her.