Keimyung University Women's Studies Institute Publishes Translation of 'Capitalism and Feminism'

The Keimyung University Institute for Women's Studies (Director: Shin Ilhee) announced on the 18th that it has published the second volume of the "Gender Translation Series in the Age of Transition," titled "Capitalism and Feminism" (co-authored by Ann Cudd and Nancy Holmstrom). This book was published as part of a study that critically analyzes the relationship between capitalism and feminism in a rapidly changing era of transition, while seeking alternative ways of life.

"Capitalism and Feminism" is a representative work on the debate surrounding capitalism and women's oppression, which began with the "Feminism and Capitalism" forum held by the American Philosophical Association in 2006. Ann Cudd and Nancy Holmstrom engaged in a fierce debate from the perspectives of defending and criticizing capitalism, respectively, and based on this, published "Capitalism, For and Against" in 2011.

Book Cover of "Capitalism and Feminism" Translation

The book begins with Cudd's arguments. Cudd sees capitalism as having the potential to enhance women's freedom and economic independence, emphasizing that inclusive and fair reforms can overcome gender discrimination. In contrast, Holmstrom analyzes capitalism from the perspective of socialist feminism as a system that structurally perpetuates women's oppression and class exploitation, and raises the need for a post-capitalist alternative system. In the final chapter, the two authors present rebuttals to each other's arguments, delving deeply into related issues.

The publication of this translated volume is expected to contribute to understanding the intersection of capitalism and patriarchy and to exploring new social models suitable for the age of transition. In particular, issues such as the gender wage gap, the proportion of women in non-regular employment, and the gendered division of care work in Korean society are closely connected to the discussions in this book. From Cudd's perspective, expanding equality through institutional reform is possible, while from Holmstrom's perspective, a more fundamental transformation of the economic system is required.

The Keimyung University Institute for Women's Studies Humanities and Social Sciences Research Project Group was selected in 2022 for the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea's "Humanities and Social Sciences Research Institute Support Project" and is conducting research on changes in political, economic, and socio-cultural spaces under the theme "Era of Transition, Region, Women, and the Production of Life." The publication of this translated volume is one of the outcomes of this research, contributing to the analysis of the intersecting structures of capitalism and patriarchy and presenting possibilities for new social models.

Jang Jieun, a researcher at the Keimyung University Institute for Women's Studies and the translator of the book, stated, "This book offers an opportunity to deeply reflect on the structure of capitalism and women's oppression, going beyond a simple debate of pros and cons regarding capitalism," and added, "It is expected to serve as a theoretical stepping stone toward a sustainable life and a gender-equal society."