Marxs and Wollstonecraft on Societal Issues - Essay Example

Marx’s and Wollstonecraft on Societal Issues affiliation Question 2: Compare Marxs understanding of the relationship between laborers and capitalists and Wollstonecrafts understanding of the relationship between women and men Introduction Marx’s understanding on the relationship between laborers and capitalists significantly relates with Wollstonecrafts view on men and women. From the reading of both authors work, there is a clear pattern of thinking. One area that come out clearly is agitation from oppression. Marx believes that workers have been alienated in a capitalist society because of the tyranny of money. Meaning, their inability to possess wealth has allowed them to loose humanity view from the rich capitalist. Similarly, Wollstonecraft, one of the early feminists argue that women have been denied education because of their perceived relegated roles1. Her overall view on the role of men and women just like Marx is the existence of class struggle. In this paper, some similarities in their thoughts will be compared with a view of understanding their individual contribution to modern society. Analysis Carl Marx argued that capitalist system was a source of alienation of workers in earlier days. In his book, he summarized areas of oppression and alienation into four fundamental areas of concern. Firstly, he argued that laborers were alienated from product and services. He expressed concern in the society that it had been taken over by what he described as fetishism of money. In his writings, he expressed displeasure in the manner in which society was evaluating men based on their materialistic credibility (Marx 1959). This is quite similar to Wollstonecraft view on alienation of women, in her book “A Vindication of the Rights of Women,” that criticizes acutely society that gave men preference over women. Although the two authors’ argument is based on different societal issues, gender equality, and economic equity, they have a nuanced agreement in the creation of fairness. Marx, for instance, argues that men should not be isolated based on their material possession, but from their abilities and skills addition to the economy2. Similarly, Wollstonecraft argues that women should not be discriminated. In her book, she argues that women deserve education that is consummate to their needs in society. Besides, she premised her thoughts that better-educated women will result in better-educated society since women determine educational outcome of the children. Essentially, both are good proponents of a just society that is free of economic and gender discrimination. Secondly, Marx argues that laborers have been belittled and viewed as lesser human beings. In his book, he described this form of isolation as “alienation from human species.” He further highlight that men have moved their objective towards getting as much money as they possibly can while putting aspects of humanity in the background. This is the well similar view of the education in women. As a feminist writer, Wollstonecraft central theme is that women, just like men should be given a similar opportunity to explore their abilities. Putting educational benefits of women in the background is a sign of retrogressive society. In her book, she identifies that women can contribute meaningfully towards society. Both arguments view laborers and women as forgotten lot in the midst of economic and educational pursuits. Thirdly, Marx identified that workers roles in society have been alienated from them. In other words, their contributions to the economy have been made impersonal. They have little to show from their sheer hard work because the capitalist system has consistently embedded within their system a pay that is lesser3. His criticism of capitalism is premised on the fact that laborers are alienated from hard work, and credit is attached to lazy contributors in an economy. Similarly, Wollstonecraft argues from the sensibility of society. Sensibility is the recognition of each component of the society with a view of appraising togetherness. However, she argues that in a men-dominated society sensibility has been reverted to be “profoundly separatist.” The point of view that the two thinkers portray is the fact economic and gender tyrants have continually strived to have dominion over the perceived weaklings in the society. Another area that both authors agree on alienation of workers and educational outcome for women is that there has been separation from other human beings. The rich strive to maintain high standards that are distinguished from the laborers. Educated men seek to enslave women and to make them objects and ornaments. A clear and persistent show of discrimination appears fundamentally similar. Notably, their argument includes provide serious criticism of those who proposed the society perception. Marx criticizes John Stuart Mill stand that money was just a simple medium of exchange that should not be viewed as a separatist object. However, Marx argues that that is erred thoughts because over years in capitalist society, money has created class struggle and discrimination. In a similar tone, Wollstonecraft attacks other writers such as James Fordyce and John Gregory, who argued that women do not need a rational education4. In her views, this was misleading and misconception on overall role of women in society. Women have aspirations and goals just like men. In her first chapter of her book, she categorically states that deleterious effects of relegating women in education. She lays a firm reasoning and rationality and discusses deleterious effects of the system of hereditary riches in society. The system has relegated neglected women, and thus, there is need to ensure commitment to women education. Another area of convergence is the systematic way in which both economic and educational outcome have become ways of creating subordination. Capitalists have subordinated workers while discrimination of women in access to education has created a lesser and vulnerable cohort of women. Notably, both hold a view that the outcomes are a creation of mindset. The ideas that are manufactured out of error and transcended through generation. To achieve humanity well, these systems must be reversed and create a conducive environment for all to achieve. Achievement of desirable human good and morally acceptable standards of living is their concurrence. Fighting perception and misconception and creating a robust society that allows everyone accomplish economic or educational outcome drives the thoughts of these two authors. Arguably, these authors argument seem to be drawn from their experiences. They give an insight of a separatist ideas and practices. More importantly, they have a robust way of exploring societal issues from multiple points of view. However, their convergence of ideas is quite impressive. Their pieces is a reflection of hard work and passion in championing good humanity discourse. Conclusion Marx and Wollstonecraft are two important agitators of good humanity. During their time, they separately worked for a better society through highlighting heinous discrimination that existed in the society. Their areas of focus were economic fairness and education for all respectively. While argument on different societal issues both authors acknowledge that, any form of discrimination was a recipe of a struggling society. As they present, their separate time reflects a society that was divided based on economic advantages and education access. Despite their noble good thoughts, society remained adamant to their noble calls. Both admitted that addressing discrimination in society was the most difficult thing in a situation where there was already created submissiveness. Lastly, they agree the role of bringing change is complex that requires undoing past practices. However, they express that it is only just society that people will exploit their maximum potential. Work Cited Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 and the Communist Manifesto, Prometheus, ISBN: 978-0879754464 Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women, Penguin, ISBN: 978- 0141441252 Read More