Woman's Worth: Sexual Economics and the World of Women

Description

Originally published in 1981, Woman’s Worth takes up the challenge to the male preserve of economics – which was raised nearly a century ago by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in her classic work Women and Economics. Patriarchal economic systems – socialist as well as capitalist – are founded upon women’s unpaid labour. On this premise, Lisa Leghorn and Katherine Parker base their exploration of the economic basis of women’s culture across cultures: from the USA to South America, the Middle East, socialist countries, Africa and Europe. Women’s Worth is accessible and informative to those who have been intimidated by the term ‘international economics’. Its sources are women’s perspective and experience in many countries, in their words and in their writings, published and unpublished. Thus the authors are able to reveal the economic nature of facets of women’s lives which have hitherto been dismissed by traditional economics as features of family or personal life, and to build a new vision of an economics based in female values. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Original Title Page Original Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Tables Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction Beginning From Women’s Perspectives 1 Sexual Economics Explored Economics: The Power to Intimidate Why the Hand That Rocks Doesn’t Rule I am Pounding for John: Women in Patriarchal Economies Women Across Cultures 2 Shouldering the High Cost of Development Domination in the Name of Progress In the Wake of the West Left Behind to Slave Something for Some at What Cost? Development for Whom? 3 As a Woman, I Have No Country: The Diversity of Male Power Heaven Under His Feet: Minimal Power Societies The Illusions of Token Power The Potential to Lobby: Negotiating Power Societies 4 The Personal is Economic Education: Gaining Control Over the Means of Reproduction The Economics of Prestige: From Survival in Scarcity to Conspicuous Leisure The Subtle Whip: Ideal as Norm The Economics of Marriage and the Family: Love’s Labor or Institutionalized Slavery? Slavery’s Underpinnings: Rule by Force 5 She Who Sows Does Not Reap Services: Those Unmeasurable Contributions Children: Income, Security and the World’s Future Of TVs and Empty Stomachs: A Higher Standard of Living? Slavery’s Profits: Potential Money While Men play, Women Pay The Vast and Awful Loss Woman’s Worth: Subsidizing the World Economy 6 The Winds of Change The Power of Hope: Rising Expectations Strength in Numbers: Networking and Support Tools of Female Insurgence Education: From Self-Respect to Social Change Fighting From Within: Legislation and Participation in Male Institutions Improving Working Conditions: The Standard of Living Love’s Labor Lost Control of Women’s Bodies 7 The Economy of the World of Women Of Sugar and Spice, Snakes and Snails The World of Woman Women’s Culture as a Survival Strategy When Proving Manhood Becomes Economic Policy Towards an Economy of Female Values From Expropriation to Liberation: Female Culture and Change Standing the World on Its Head: International Strategies and a Matriarchal Power Base Notes Index