The relevance of the gender category and the social relations of sex in discussions on an organization and division of labor

Abstract

Women are appointed as the main responsible for life-sustaining work, and even when in the labor market, they accumulate productive and reproductive services. From this understanding we propose, in this essay, debate the value of the sexual division of labor, and social relations of sex, in the classical discussions about the division of labor. For this, we start from the studies of Smith, Durkheim, Marx and Engels on division of labor, and moving to the conceptual work of Kergoat and Hirata on sexual division of labor and social relations of sex. Approaches between Smith, Marx and Engels regarding materiality on the basis of the formation of society were evidenced in this path, and Marx and Engels go deeper on the discussion of classes exploration, and distances between Smith and Durkheim - while one sees the exchanges as a link. between people, the other attributes the same function to interdependent consciousness. However, it is observed that the specificities of the female condition were not considered. The sexual division of labor demonstrates that there are socially determined jobs for men and women, and men’s work is most valued. This division appears as the material basis that changes the social relations between men and women, generating a tension that contributes to the maintenance of the social and economic devaluation of women. Thus, it is concluded that the gender variable is extremely relevant in discussions about the division of labor and social production and reproduction.