Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the pioneers of modern socialism, insisted that every adult member of society be “liberated” from parental work and instead fill “socially productive” roles. Mao Zedong of China embraced this doctrine and declared that “in order to build a great socialist society it is of the utmost importance to arouse the broad masses of women to join in productive activity” which would foster “genuine equality between the sexes.”
Notice that here in just a few words, the work of bearing and raising human beings is labeled “unproductive activity” that women must be emancipated from so they can equally contribute to mankind’s economic security. Marx and Engels also promised that equalizing workplace participation would launch large amounts of money into the economy, facilitate equality, and make entire societies prosperous.
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