Labor and the shadows of gender-based violence in contemporary capitalism: an intersectional feminist perspective

Abstract

Abstract This theoretical essay, grounded in Feminist Critical Social Psychology, seeks to unveil how the ontological disfigurement of work, inherent to capitalist dynamics, becomes intertwined with gender, race, and class oppressions. The analytical trajectory demonstrates how this entanglement produces suffering and psychological distress, with a particular focus on women’s experiences. The analysis examines configurations of contemporary neoliberalism, specifically managerial logics within startups. We denounce the ideological discourse that attempts to conceal oppressions under the guise of so-called “labor market flexibilization” and an illusory sense of “belonging.” Through an intersectional lens, we show that such mechanisms result in the superexploitation of labor and the erosion of workers’ lives. This reflection calls for a radical social transformation, rejecting individual solutions or organizational palliatives. We advocate for the dismantling of patriarchy, racism, and capitalism, in pursuit of reclaiming the teleological meaning of human activity, the collectivization of care, and an ethical rupture in the valuation of work.