Shivani Mody - Week Seven

“Dynamics of Sexual Division of Labour and Capital Accumulation” by Maria Miles 

In her article “Dynamics of Sexual Division of Labour and Capital Accumulation”, Maria Miles proposes that - the assumption of female labor being purely domestic, allows for an exploitation of women by involving them in the capitalist economy while limiting the benefits that the receive for the same. To demonstrate the same, she uses the case study of women lace workers of Narsapur. The production of unnecessary luxury items by women and children who often don’t even know the purpose of the same is not a new phenomenon. Engels and Marx have both studies the exploitation of women and children as part of the capitalist economy.

Miles observes how the beginning of the lace industry in India was completely led and organized by women. However, as lace export became a profitable business, the entry of Kapu capitalist farmer to the business, pushed the Christian women of Narsapur town to the periphery of the process. By the addition of middlemen and takeover of normal export, men became the capitalist ‘manufactures’ who reaped benefits of the women’s labour.

The intrinsic and imbedded separation of the sphere of production and that of reproduction creates a ready framework to exploit women’s labour. Along with this there is attached hierarchy of class and caste that puts women who fall in the lower spectrum of either at more of a disadvantage. The work done by these women, goes unnoticed, not only in the larger markets, but even at home, where they are expected to complete domestic duties on time regardless of the work they do as lace- makers.

Thus, the integration of women in a world system of capital accumulation does not give them the freedom or advantages of free wage labourers. Their status as housewives limits their access to the same and allows for continued exploitation.