Kristen Ghodsee, a Professor of Russian and East European Studies and author of notable works on socialism and feminism, dives into the dynamics of modern family structures. She challenges the nuclear family model, arguing it restricts individual growth and suggests healthier, community-focused alternatives. Ghodsee critiques capitalist pressures on parenting and the undervaluation of unpaid labor. She highlights the benefits of collectivized caregiving and communal support, advocating for a reimagined approach to family and child-rearing that prioritizes inclusivity and well-being.
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insights INSIGHT
Capitalism Strains Parenting and Romance
Capitalist parenting often destroys romance due to stress and lack of support.
Many desire children but forego parenting because societal conditions feel too hostile and expensive.
insights INSIGHT
Women's Unpaid Labor Fuels Capitalism
Capitalism relies heavily on unpaid reproductive labor mostly done by women.
This labor is essential yet often seen as natural and unworthy of compensation, reinforcing exploitation.
insights INSIGHT
Nuclear Family Supports Capitalist Wealth Transfer
The nuclear family is a capitalist-based institution facilitating wealth transfer to biological children.
This system promotes competition among parents and undermines broader solidarity and sharing.
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Why Women Had Better Sex Under Socialism and Other Arguments for Economic Independence
Kristen Ghodsee
Red Valkyries
Feminist Lessons From Five Revolutionary Women
Kristen Ghodsee
In "Red Valkyries," Kristen Ghodsee profiles five revolutionary women from Eastern Europe, highlighting their contributions to feminist movements and socialist struggles. The book examines their lives and activism within the context of historical events, exploring the complexities of gender, politics, and revolution. Ghodsee analyzes the women's experiences and perspectives, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs of feminist activism in challenging political environments. The book provides valuable lessons on feminist organizing, resilience, and the pursuit of social justice. "Red Valkyries" inspires readers to engage in feminist activism and strive for a more equitable world.
The Two-Parent Privilege
Melissa Kearney
In this book, Melissa S. Kearney presents a provocative case for the economic benefits of marriage, highlighting how the decline of marriage has exacerbated economic and social inequalities in the US. Based on over a decade of economic research, Kearney argues that households with two married parents offer significant economic and non-economic benefits to both the parents and their children, particularly in terms of financial stability, educational outcomes, and social mobility. She emphasizes that the decline in marriage is more pronounced among lower socioeconomic groups, leading to a 'two-parent privilege' that advantages children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Kearney also discusses the underlying causes of the marriage decline, including changes in male wages and female labor market participation, and suggests policy implications to address these issues.
Everyday Utopia
Kristen R. Ghodsee
There is nothing natural about the way we arrange families under capitalism—in fact, there are many who would argue that there is something quite unnatural about narrowing the experience of romance and child-rearing into the rigid form of the nuclear family. That there are much better ways of arranging these things might come as a surprise to some—but for those who have researched it, it’s no shock: there are much better ways of arranging things, and there’s quite a bit of evidence to back this up.
Kristen Ghodsee is Professor of Russian and East European Studies and a member of the Graduate Group in Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the critically acclaimed author of Everyday Utopia: What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life, Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism and Red Valkyries: Feminist Lessons From Five Revolutionary Women.
In today’s episode, Part 2 of our ongoing series on Post Capitalist Parenting, we take a deep dive into Kristen Ghodsee’s work around the family and parenting. What restraints and barriers are imposed upon us through the capitalist nuclear family? What do the pro-natalists get wrong about the obsession with birthrates and the “return to tradition” when it comes to childrearing? And what alternative arrangements are out there which can provide parents and children alike with an experience that is arguably much more healthy and sustainable than the way we do things now? These are just some of the questions we explore in this conversation with Kristen Ghodsee.
This episode was produced in collaboration with EcoGather, an experimental educational project focused on heterodox economics, collective action, and belonging in an enlivened world. EcoGather hosts gatherings to bring some Upstream episodes to life—this is one of those episodes. The EcoGathering for this episode will be held on Sunday, May 25th from 11-12:30pm ET. Find out more at ecogather.ing.
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