Social Reproduction: Scope and Limits w/ Sue Ferguson, Hester Eisenstein & more (11-13-20)

Jonathan Martineau: Algorithmic Capitalism and Social Reproduction: An Exploration The advent of Algorithmic Capitalism has reconfigured capital and labor relations, but also social reproduction. Since studies of the algorithmization of housework are very scarce thus far from a social reproduction perspective, this paper seeks to start a conversation by inquiring into two aspects of this new reality : Smart home technologies, and the population of the household by connected goods. The paper (i) proposes a periodization of three periods of domestic labor (industrial, neoliberal, algorithmic), (ii) inquires into the dialectics of the algorithmic subsumption of domestic work, (iii) examines the commodification of domestic work and the imperative for "domestic data" extraction, and (iv) explores the reconfiguration of affective labor within the household by IA domestic assistant technologies. Sue Ferguson: Social Reproduction Theory: New Challenges With both Covid-19 and the BLM-led uprising in the US dramatically reshaping the current moment, SRT confronts new (and some old) challenges. In this talk I survey questions that the period poses about value, resistance, the state, violence, debt and racism. My hope is to invite a conversation about the gaps within the social reproduction tradition, and openings for addressing the pressing political issues of the day. Hester Eisensten: From Patriarchy to Social Reproduction: Some Theoretical Questions In the early days of 20th century Marxist-Feminist theorizing (in the 1970s) the debate centered on whether patriarchy and capitalism were two separate systems (dual systems theory; cf. Iris Marion Young) or whether they were a unified system (cf. Lise Vogel). In the current era I argue that patriarchy has been in part subsumed under the Social Reproduction Theory framework (cf. Tithi Bhattacharya and Cinzia Arruzza). Yet in an era where international feminist organizing has been called the cutting edge of revolution against capitalism and imperialism, patriarchal norms still threaten women individually and as a group with murder, rape, and annihilation. How do we theorize these manifestations of patriarchal violence as part of or in relation to SRT? PLEASE NOTE: All events for HM Online are free to register, however we would ask comrades who are able to please consider supporting the Historical Materialism project. Please consider subscribing to the Historical Materialism journal, published by BRILL, who are currently offering a 25% discount on individual subscriptions, valid until the end of the year. To use the offer, quote the discount code 70997 when subscribing at: www.brill.com/hima Also, please consider subscribing to the Historical Materialism book series through Haymarket Books. For $25 per month, this subscription gets you every new title from the Historical Materialism series when it is released (as long as your subscription remains active) plus a 50% discount on *all* Haymarket books titles via our website. Non-US subscribers will be charged an extra $20/month for international shipping. https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/894-haymarket-book-club-historical-materialism-series Watch the live event recording: https://youtu.be/O9T3r59Zd-A Buy books from Haymarket: www.haymarketbooks.org Follow us on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/haymarketbooks