REPRODUCTIVE LABOR AND CAPITALISM: SOCIAL REPRODUCTION THEORY AS A TOOL FOR CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

This article analyzes Social Reproduction Theory (SRT) as a fundamental approach to understanding the interdependence between productive and reproductive labor under capitalism. Drawing on the works of Lisa Vogel, Silvia Federici, and Tithi Bhattacharya, the research highlights how the invisibilization and devaluation of reproductive labor, predominantly performed by women, sustain capitalist accumulation. From a Marxist feminist perspective, the article discusses the relationship between gender, class, and race in structuring labor exploitation, emphasizing the need to integrate struggles for recognition and valuation of reproductive labor into class struggle. By proposing an expanded view of capitalism, SRT challenges the dichotomy between the public and private spheres, revealing contradictions and pathways toward a more equitable social transformation.