The Capitalist function of the family / Sarah Elbert and Silvia Federici

Program Title:
The Capitalist function of the family / Sarah Elbert and Silvia Federici
PRA Archive #: 
BC2216
Description: 

On April 5 and 6, 1975, the New School chapter of the Union of Radical Political Economists hosted a conference on Marxian Approaches to History. This recording consists of the formal presentations given during a session on the capitalist function of the family. Sarah Elbert, State University of New York at Binghamton, delivers a talk entitled "The Concept of Domestic Feminism" about the domestic reform movement of the early 19th century which sought to cushion the shock of industrialization and nuclearization of American families with a cult of conservative domesticity. As opposed to the 1700's, when they often worked alongside their men, 19th century women were relegated to the unpaid caste of housewives. The second speaker, Silvia Federici, sees the nuclear family as a factory for capitalism. She calls for women to undermine this exploitative system by demanding wages for work in the home.

Original tape box image: 
Station: 
Date Recorded on: 
April 5 or 6, 1975
Date Broadcast on: 
WBAI, ca. April 1975
Item duration: 
1 reel (67 min.) : 7 1/2 ips, mono.
Keywords: 
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Distributor: 
Los Angeles : Pacifica Radio Archive, 1975.
Rights Summary: 
RESTRICTED. Permissions, licensing requests, Curriculum Initiative, Campus Campaign and all other inquiries should be directed to: Mark Torres, Archives Director, 800-735-0230, Mark@PacificaRadioArchives.org
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This recording has been digitally preserved as part of Pacifica's American Women Making History and Culture: 1963-1982 grant preservation project, and is available for research and reference . Please contact the archives via telephone: 818-506-1077 or email:  americanwomen at pacificaradioarchives dot org for information on how to obtain a copy of this program. Thank you.



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