PANEL 3 / EXPLORING SOCIAL REPRODUCTION IN CONTEMPORARY WORLD
CONVENOR: INES ZAMPIGLIONE
All inquiries about the panel should be sent to [email protected]
The concept of social reproduction has a longstanding history within the tradition of political philosophy. Traditionally, this concept refers to the process of reproducing the conditions of the mode of production, encompassing the renewal of labour power through biological continuity across
generations, along with meeting essential needs such as nourishment, rest, and emotional care. Given that these activities have historically been predominantly undertaken by women, feminist theories (Dalla Costa, Vogel) have extensively engaged with this concept, showing how capitalism exploits and perpetuates gender oppression by assigning reproductive activities to a secondary role while disregarding its inherent dependence upon them. Nevertheless, the purview of social reproduction extends beyond the confines of household care provision, encompassing diverse realms – including symbolic and cultural reproduction – as well as socialization processes across various settings – notably educational institutions (Fraser). Moreover, today the realm of social reproduction is closely intertwined with capitalist labour relations, both influencing and being influenced by them (Bhattacharya, Mezzadri). Social reproduction activities – frequently racialized and feminized – are usually undervalued and underpaid – whether they are waged – or fall within informal labour sectors. This becomes particularly evident when widening the perspective beyond the Western context and comprehending the global dimension of capitalism.
In this panel we would like to discuss the multifaceted dimension of social reproduction in contemporary society, encompassing both theoretical and political dimensions. The panel welcomes contributions relating to (but not limited to) the following themes and questions:
- Theoretical boundaries: what are to be considered social reproduction activities?
- Social reproduction and work: should social reproduction activities be productive to qualify as labour in contemporary society? Can social reproduction prompt a paradigm shift in our contemporary understanding of work?
- The role of social reproduction in respect to the contemporary modes of production in Western society, with particular attention to the COVID-19 crisis
- The role of social reproduction in respect to capitalist valorization in the Global South
- The role of female and racialized people in social reproduction
- To what extent can social reproduction serve as a catalyst for developing novel strategies against capitalism within the realm of social struggle?
All inquiries about the panel should be sent to [email protected]
The concept of social reproduction has a longstanding history within the tradition of political philosophy. Traditionally, this concept refers to the process of reproducing the conditions of the mode of production, encompassing the renewal of labour power through biological continuity across
generations, along with meeting essential needs such as nourishment, rest, and emotional care. Given that these activities have historically been predominantly undertaken by women, feminist theories (Dalla Costa, Vogel) have extensively engaged with this concept, showing how capitalism exploits and perpetuates gender oppression by assigning reproductive activities to a secondary role while disregarding its inherent dependence upon them. Nevertheless, the purview of social reproduction extends beyond the confines of household care provision, encompassing diverse realms – including symbolic and cultural reproduction – as well as socialization processes across various settings – notably educational institutions (Fraser). Moreover, today the realm of social reproduction is closely intertwined with capitalist labour relations, both influencing and being influenced by them (Bhattacharya, Mezzadri). Social reproduction activities – frequently racialized and feminized – are usually undervalued and underpaid – whether they are waged – or fall within informal labour sectors. This becomes particularly evident when widening the perspective beyond the Western context and comprehending the global dimension of capitalism.
In this panel we would like to discuss the multifaceted dimension of social reproduction in contemporary society, encompassing both theoretical and political dimensions. The panel welcomes contributions relating to (but not limited to) the following themes and questions:
- Theoretical boundaries: what are to be considered social reproduction activities?
- Social reproduction and work: should social reproduction activities be productive to qualify as labour in contemporary society? Can social reproduction prompt a paradigm shift in our contemporary understanding of work?
- The role of social reproduction in respect to the contemporary modes of production in Western society, with particular attention to the COVID-19 crisis
- The role of social reproduction in respect to capitalist valorization in the Global South
- The role of female and racialized people in social reproduction
- To what extent can social reproduction serve as a catalyst for developing novel strategies against capitalism within the realm of social struggle?