Racism & Sexism In Capitalism

[High School Marxist]

How exactly does capitalism cause racism & sexism & etc?

[Sea]

How exactly does capitalism cause racism & sexism & etc?Capitalism needs classes and exploitation. Effective exploitation also needs class society in itself. Class society is very invasive, dividing not only among rich and poor but among sex and race.

In other words, capitalism doesn't need racism or sexism etc, but it provides a remarkably effective vehicle for such disgusting practices to ride on. This even happens in reverse; the combination of capitalism and racism already present in the USA has provided the motivation (moolah) for more racism as can be seen in blaxploitation films and the noise known as rap which exploit the sharp cultural gradiant between blacks and whites that has been created in turn by segregation, in turn a lingering result of blacks-only slavery, which is in turn itself a manifestation of greedy capitalist exploitation.

[roy]

capitalism thrives on the exploitation of peoples. this has ingrained a mindset that holds the subjugated to be inferior. patriarchy is older than capitalism, but it has developed within the current economic mode to the effect that women are still paid less and generally more put-upon than men, thus sexist attitudes are perpetuated.

however, rap is cool.

[electrostal]

Racism and sexism existed before capitalism.

[Aussie Trotskyist]

Its also a tool of the bourgeoisie (and previous ruling classes). They use it in an attempt to disunite the masses, and thus hinder our cause.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Racism and sexism existed before capitalism.Sexism, in a form, yes - Racism, not so much. Some level of systemic sexism is found in most class societies and this sexual division in society probably developed with specializations and divisions in production: the rise of classes.

Modern sexism is specific to capitalism though and developed in the 1800s: the idea of women's "natural" role in society replaced the idea that women needed to be controlled because "that's the way God made the social hierarchy" and instead argued were just "naturally" physically and mentally weaker (compared to the Feudal idea about women - weak, in spirit and morality - Eve, ya know - not necessarily in body) and child-like and "pure". This fits with an overall move in Bourgeois culture to deal with the growing industrial working class: women would be free-labor to me, so "naturally" they are supportive and nurturing, not that they are culturally compelled to become free worker's home and child-care for the system.

Racism is even newer and developed along with bourgeois ideas of "natural rights" and all men being created equal. In the Americas you can actually trace the development of racial castes through laws that were passed restricting rights for black bondsmen and making them the slaves we think of when we think of the pre-Civil War South; in the Caribbean, new "races" such as creole and various other groupings based levels of mixed heritage were given different rights. In the US native Americans became "savages" as a justification as to why God created everyone equal, but in practice, some are "more equal than others" and more entitled to the land.

There may have always been some level of xenophobia and certainly a lot of oppression in earlier systems, but "racism" as we know it didn't exist.