Name: CAMILA GUIMARÃES GARCIA
Publication date: 30/03/2026
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| MARIA CRISTINA LONGO CARDOSO DIAS | Presidente |
| POLYANA CRISTINA TIDRE | Examinador Externo |
| SILVANA DE SOUZA RAMOS | Examinador Externo |
Summary: This dissertation examines the origins of capitalism from the perspective of Silvia Federici,
who understands it as a counterrevolution carried out by the ruling classes to restrain the
achievements of the working classes. It argues that the historical process of the witch hunts in
Europe, as well as the deepening of inequalities of sex, race, and class, constitutes a central
element in the formation of the capitalist mode of production. It further contends that the
consolidation of this mode of production entailed the establishment of a new sexual division of
labor, grounded in the control and disciplining of women’s bodies and in the devaluation of
unpaid reproductive labor, which is fundamental to the reproduction of labor power.
In dialogue with other Marxist feminist philosophers, this dissertation defends the centrality of
reproductive labor to the functioning of capitalism, highlighting the theoretical controversies
surrounding its recognition as productive labor and the question of the production of surplus
value. It also emphasizes the importance of Black feminism—particularly the contributions of
Lélia Gonzalez, Sueli Carneiro, and Angela Davis—in demonstrating that the exploitation of
reproductive labor is historically shaped by racism, producing specific forms of subordination
of Black women. Finally, the study presents a brief analysis of the Brazilian historical and
legislative context, emphasizing the role of the state in reproducing inequalities and identifying
care policy as a strategic arena of social and political struggle.
