What is 'reserve army of labour'? Present the position of feminist scholars on this.

The Reserve Army of Labour: A Marxist Perspective

Marx argued that capitalism inherently creates a surplus population – the reserve army of labour – due to its drive for increased productivity and accumulation. This surplus population is crucial for maintaining the profitability of capitalism in several ways:

• Wage Depression: The existence of a large pool of unemployed workers keeps wages low, as workers compete for limited jobs.
• Discipline: The threat of unemployment encourages workers to accept poor working conditions and suppress demands for better treatment.
• Flexibility: The reserve army allows capitalists to quickly expand production during periods of economic growth without significantly raising wages.

Marx identified different sections within the reserve army, including the ‘latent’ (e.g., agricultural workers), ‘floating’ (migrant workers), and ‘stagnant’ (long-term unemployed). He believed this army was a necessary condition for the functioning of capitalism.

Feminist Critiques of the Reserve Army of Labour

Feminist scholars have offered several critiques of the traditional Marxist understanding of the reserve army, highlighting its gendered blind spots:

1. The Gendered Nature of the Reserve Army

Feminist scholars argue that women are disproportionately represented in the reserve army, not simply as a result of capitalist dynamics, but due to pre-existing patriarchal structures. Women’s labour is often devalued and relegated to the domestic sphere, making them more vulnerable to unemployment and underemployment. Furthermore, societal expectations around childcare and eldercare often limit women’s participation in the formal labour market.

2. Reproductive Labour and the Reserve Army

Reproductive labour – the work of caring for and maintaining the workforce – is largely unpaid and performed by women. Feminist economists like Silvia Federici argue that this unpaid labour is essential for the functioning of capitalism, but it is not recognized as ‘productive’ in the Marxist sense. The devaluation of reproductive labour contributes to women’s economic dependence and their position within the reserve army. The constant need for reproduction creates a continuous replenishment of the labour force, and women are often pushed back into this role during economic downturns.

3. The ‘Hidden’ Reserve Army

Feminist scholars point to a ‘hidden’ reserve army of labour comprised of women engaged in informal sector work, part-time employment, and precarious jobs. This work is often invisible in official statistics and is characterized by low wages, lack of benefits, and limited job security. This hidden reserve army provides capitalists with a flexible and cheap labour source.

4. Intersectionality and the Reserve Army

Intersectionality, a key concept in feminist theory, highlights how gender intersects with other forms of oppression, such as race, class, and caste, to shape individuals’ experiences in the labour market. Women of colour, for example, are often disproportionately represented in the reserve army due to the combined effects of gender and racial discrimination.

Expanding the Concept: Gendered Labour Markets

Feminist scholars have expanded the concept of the reserve army to encompass the specific dynamics of gendered labour markets. They argue that the reserve army is not simply a pool of unemployed workers, but a complex system of labour control that operates differently for men and women. For example, the threat of losing access to childcare or facing discrimination in the workplace can be just as effective as the threat of unemployment in maintaining discipline among women workers.

Furthermore, the concept of ‘deskilling’ is particularly relevant to women’s work. Jobs traditionally performed by women are often deskilled and automated, leading to wage stagnation and job losses. This process contributes to the creation of a reserve army of women workers with limited skills and employment opportunities.