How can we use Social Reproduction Theory to inform political strategy?

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 20 November 2020
Publisher: Pluto Press

Integrating Social Reproduction Theory into Our Understanding of Social Harms

Social Reproduction Theory (SRT) is a framework that provides a comprehensive understanding of the social harms inflicted upon us. It integrates the theoretical underpinnings of productive and reproductive spheres, exploring the connection between identity-based oppression and class exploitation. By recognizing the distinct forms of social domination, SRT offers a powerful Marxist frame for social analysis and political practice.

In his book, Aaron Jaffe extracts the radical potential of SRT, relying on recent struggles, such as the International Women's Strike and the teachers' strikes, to demonstrate how we can use SRT to motivate socialist politics and strategy. This book is unique and necessary, as it provides a comprehensive appreciation of the social harms we face and offers vital strategic implications for anti-capitalists, anti-racists, LGBT activists, disability activists, and feminists.

SRT helps us understand the interconnections between different forms of social domination, such as gender, race, class, and sexuality. It recognizes that these forms of oppression are not separate but are interconnected and reinforce each other. For example, women's oppression is not just a result of gender discrimination but also of the economic and social conditions that perpetuate class exploitation. Similarly, racism is not just a result of individual prejudice but also of the economic and political structures that perpetuate class inequality.

By integrating SRT into our understanding of social harms, we can develop more effective strategies for social change. SRT emphasizes the importance of collective action and the need to challenge the dominant institutions that perpetuate social domination. It also highlights the importance of building alternative institutions that are based on social equality and justice.

One of the key insights of SRT is that social reproduction is not just a matter of individual choices but is also shaped by the broader social and economic structures. This means that our struggles for social change must be integrated with broader political and economic struggles. For example, the fight for women's rights must be linked to the fight for universal healthcare, the fight for racial justice must be linked to the fight for economic equality, and the fight for LGBT rights must be linked to the fight for social and economic justice.

In conclusion, integrating Social Reproduction Theory into our understanding of social harms is essential for developing effective strategies for social change. By recognizing the interconnections between different forms of social domination, we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the social world and develop more effective strategies for challenging and transforming the dominant institutions that perpetuate social inequality and oppression.

Weight: 194g
Dimension: 135 x 214 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780745340548