Business Quote by Carole Pateman
““The domestic relations of master–slave and master-servant, relations between unequals, have given way to the relation between capitalist or employer and wage labourer or worker. Production moved from the family to capitalist enterprises, and male domestic labourers became workers. The wage labourer now stands as a civil equal with his employer in the public realm of the capitalist market. A (house)wife remains in the private domestic sphere, but the unequal relations of domestic life are ‘naturally so’ and thus do not detract from the universal equality of the public world. The marriage contract is the only remaining example of a domestic labour contract, and so the conjugal relation can easily be seen as a remnant of the pre-modern domestic order – as a feudal relic, or an aspect of the old world of status that has not yet been transformed by contract.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Sexual Contract by Carole Pateman, 1988
The quote argues that modern capitalism shifted labor relations from household hierarchies to employer‑employee contracts, while domestic inequality persists, especially in marriage, as a leftover of pre‑modern status orders.
In simple terms: Capitalism changed work relations but kept domestic inequality, especially in marriage.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge lingering domestic power imbalances.
Themes
gender
labor
capitalism
equality
marriage
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
feminist
When to use this quote
- workplace negotiations
- marital counseling
- policy reform
- activism
- education
Key Concepts
social contract
class
feminist theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can legal reforms address marital power imbalances?
- What role does culture play in sustaining domestic hierarchies?
A Different Perspective
Domestic equality may be limited by cultural norms and legal frameworks.
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