How "Reactionary Feminism" Infiltrated the Mainstream

In this work, Friedrich Engels delves into the interplay between familial structures, economic systems, and state formation. He argues that the oppression of women and the emergence of class society are historically linked to the production of a surplus and the division of society into classes. The book also discusses how the state arose as a tool to defend the ruling class. Engels bases his analysis on the research of anthropologist Lewis Henry Morgan and uses the method of historical materialism to explain these societal developments.

Katrine Marçal's "Who Cooked Adam Smith's Dinner? A Counter-History of Food" explores the hidden role of women's unpaid labor in shaping economic theories and systems. The book challenges traditional economic narratives by highlighting the significant contributions of women's domestic work, often overlooked in mainstream economic thought. Marçal argues that understanding this hidden labor is crucial for a more accurate and equitable understanding of economic history and current systems. She connects the historical invisibility of women's work to the ongoing gender pay gap and other inequalities. The book ultimately calls for a re-evaluation of economic models to account for the true value of women's contributions.