Woman and Labour

Name: Woman and Labour
Author: Olive Schreiner

By Olive Schreiner

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Gender & Sexuality Studies Sociology

About This Book

The author traces biological and social origins of sex differences across plants and animals to challenge fixed assumptions about female weakness and parental roles, arguing that many gendered behaviors are contingent on environment. She critiques the economic dependence imposed on women as parasitic, analyzes war and masculine aggression, and rejects nostalgia for past domestic functions. Advocating access to education, paid labour, political participation, and shared responsibility in child-rearing, she insists that social reconstruction must grant women equal opportunities to perform productive and intellectual work while respecting choices about motherhood.

About the Author

Olive Schreiner

Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) was a South African author and social critic, known for her pioneering contributions to literature and feminist thought. Her most notable work, "The Story of an African Farm," is celebrated for its innovative narrative style and exploration of complex themes such as gender and colonialism. Schreiner's writings often reflect her deep engagement with social issues, particularly those affecting women and the indigenous populations of South Africa. In addition to her fiction, she wrote essays and critiques, including "Woman and Labour" and "Thoughts on South Africa," which further established her as a significant voice in the discourse on social justice and equality.