A spirited, deeply
researched exploration of why capitalism is bad for women and how,
when done right, socialism leads to economic independence, better
labor conditions, better work-life balance and, yes, even better sex.
In a witty,
irreverent op-ed piece that went viral, Kristen Ghodsee argued that
women had better sex under socialism. The response was tremendous --
clearly she articulated something many women had sensed for years:
the problem is with capitalism, not with us.
Ghodsee, an
acclaimed ethnographer and professor of Russian and East European
Studies, spent years researching what happened to women in countries
that transitioned from state socialism to capitalism. She argues here
that unregulated capitalism disproportionately harms women, and that
we should learn from the past. By rejecting the bad and salvaging the
good, we can adapt some socialist ideas to the 21st century and
improve our lives.
She tackles all
aspects of a woman's life - work, parenting, sex and relationships,
citizenship, and leadership. In a chapter called "Women: Like
Men, But Cheaper," she talks about women in the workplace,
discussing everything from the wage gap to harassment and
discrimination. In "What To Expect When You're Expecting
Exploitation," she addresses motherhood and how "having it
all" is impossible under capitalism.
Women are standing
up for themselves like never before, from the increase in the number
of women running for office to the women's march to the long-overdue
public outcry against sexual harassment. Interest in socialism is
also on the rise – whether it's the popularity of Bernie Sanders or
the skyrocketing membership numbers of the Democratic Socialists of
America. It's become increasingly clear to women that capitalism
isn't working for us, and Ghodsee is the informed, lively guide who
can show us the way forward.