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Is Capitalism Good for Women?

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  • Ann Cudd

Abstract

This paper investigates an aspect of the question of whether capitalism can be defended as a morally legitimate economic system by asking whether capitalism serves progressive, feminist ends of freedom and gender equality. I argue that although capitalism is subject to critique for increasing economic inequality, it can be seen to decrease gender inequality, particularly in traditional societies. Capitalism brings technological and social innovations that are good for women, and disrupts traditions that subordinate women in materially beneficial and socially progressive ways. Capitalism upholds the ideology of individual rights and the ideal of mutual advantage. By institutionalizing mutual advantage through the logic of voluntary exchange, progressive capitalism promotes the idea that no one is to be expected to sacrifice their interests with no expectation of benefit. Thus capitalism opposes the traditional, sexist ideal of womanly self-sacrifice. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Ann Cudd, 2015. "Is Capitalism Good for Women?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(4), pages 761-770, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:127:y:2015:i:4:p:761-770
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-014-2185-9
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jonathan Peillex & Sabri Boubaker & Breeda Comyns, 2021. "Does It Pay to Invest in Japanese Women? Evidence from the MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(3), pages 595-613, May.
    2. Berggren, Niclas & Bjørnskov, Christian, 2023. "Does Capitalism Disfavor Women? Evidence from Life Satisfaction," Working Paper Series 1471, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    3. Dov Fischer & Hershey Friedman, 2021. "Family Business in the #MeToo Era: Lessons from Ruth on Tone at the Top," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 37-55, April.

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